Tessera Zero Dynamics (TZD) Cruciform Stiletto

• Common name: TZD-31 Cruciform Stiletto / “cru-stile” (street name)
• Manufacturer: Tessera Zero Dynamics — Advanced Edgeworks, Valles Marineris, Mars (artisan + lab hybrid)
• Model: TZD-31C (31 cm duralloy titanium zirconium dioxide coated cruciform needle stiletto)
• Intended role: Close-combat precision blade for elite operators; in Adi’s case used as paired close-quarters combat weapons (kukri is heavy; these are for stabbing/precision/cutting where needed).
• Legal status: Highly restricted in many jurisdictions because of TZD edge tech; civilian sales require licensing and registration. Black-market variants exist.

Core Specs

• Overall blade length: 31.0 cm (blade cutting surface / tip length)
• Overall length (including hilt): ~44–46 cm
• Blade profile: Needle-tipped, cruciform-shaped blade, cross-guard of short quillons, tapered spine for torsional stiffness
• Blade geometry: long slender thrust geometry with a narrow cutting facet along the distal third (aesthetics + function)
• Edge type: TZD micro-edge (branded Tessera material/finish capable of near molecular-level keenness)
• Point: Reinforced, needle-tipped for deep penetration at very short range
• Grip: Composite wrapped with anti-slip polymer and micro-tactile inlays sized for Adi's large hands; short ricasso to allow controlled choking the blade
• Guard & pommel: Small cruciform guard to protect the hand; weighted pommel with removable lanyard ring (pommel serves as balance mass)
• Sheath: Kydex/carbon composite sheath with smart-lock (biometric / neural interface optional), quick-release clasp, and inside anti-corrosion humidity absorbers
• Finish / color: Non-reflective matte dark graphite grip with optional anodized accent trims (user-customizable) and matte golden titanium zirconium dioxide blade coating
• Empty mass (single blade): ~320–420 g (heavier than a thin stiletto because TZD materials and reinforcement add mass)
• Balance point: ~3–4 cm from guard (forward of grip for thrust stability)
• Pair carry: Designed to be paired (mirror balance for dual-wielding)

Materials & Tech

• Blade core: Marketed as “TZD micro dura-alloy lamina” — Tessera brand composite alloy and surface treatment with titanium zirconium dioxide ceramic coating that yields extreme edge retention and a specialized micro-honing that reads as “molecular” in trade talk.
• Surface treatment: Nano-passivation finish that reduces glare, resists staining, and lowers friction on soft tissues.
• Smart features (optional factory / aftermarket):
• Biometric sheath lock (fingerprint/hand-shape): prevents casual handling.
• Neural handshake option: links sheath lock to a user’s neural lace so only authorized neural signatures can quick-release (Adi uses neural unlocking instead of visible biometric pair).
• Micro inertial tag: small inertial ID that records deployment events (for legal owners who want usage logs removable for privacy (illegal to tamper in many regions).

Availability & Pricing

• Factory new (registered, Tessera dealer): ~22,000 – 52,000 cr (artisan blade + TZD edge tech premium; includes sheath and baseline smart-lock)
• Gray-market (de-registered, minor mods): ~30,000 – 75,000 cr.
• Illicit / black-market (neural handshake installed or edge re-profiled, serialized scrubbed): ~55,000 – 140,000 cr (price varies with degree of scrubbing, bespoke work, and exotic TZD coatings).
• Training/replica (dull, non-TZD edge for arena/training): ~1,500 – 6,000 cr (safe practice variants widely available).
• Sheath smart-mods (neural handshake install): ~3,000 – 18,000 cr (illegal service ranges high).
• Maintenance / Tessera factory reconditioning: ~2,500 – 12,000 cr per full service (edge refresh, micro-lap, passivation).

Failure Modes & Maintenance

• Edge roll / nick: The TZD edge resists rolling but will chip or nick against very hard inclusions (ceramic plates, tantalum flechettes, etc. Armor may mitigate nerve/joint strikes.
• Corrosion / staining: Unlikely under ordinary use because of passivation, but exposure to industrial acids or neglect will dull the finish and increase inspection failures.
• Mechanical failure: Small electronics (if installed) can fail—smart sheath locks jam in high-EM or extreme-heat environments; owners often carry manual bypass keys (legal/illegal consequences depending on the laws of that world or colony).
• Authorized servicing: Tessera strongly recommends factory servicing to maintain edge rating; black-market edge-tech re-profile shops exist but carry risk.

Legal / Social Context & Forensics

• Registration hooks: Legitimate sales require buyer registration and micro-tagging of the blade (in many colonies). Removal of tags and illicit neural installs are traceable if BuCol or Tessera audits the chain.
• Forensic marks: Blade micro-etching and unique micro-surface patterns can match a particular knife to wounds in investigative scenarios. The TZD micro-finish leaves a characteristic cut signature that expert surgeons or coroners might recognize.
• Cultural resonance: In certain circles, owning a TZD blade marks you as elite (Aditi "Adi" Nizhóní Peshlakai )or dangerously affluent. In slum districts, TZD knives are aspirational contraband.

Variants & Accessories

• TZD-31T (training): Non-TZD edge, blunt tip, polymer core for sparring. Cheap and common in training rings.
• TZD-31S (stealth): Shorter grip, collapsible lanyard, extra-low glint finish for undercover ops (exceedingly rare, very, very expensive).
• Sheath options:
• Standard: Thigh or back mount with smart-lock.
• Concealed: Boot clip or inner-jacket sheath for covert carry (requires custom clothing).
• Concealed: Neural net locked wrist sheath with magnetic lock and ejection into the wearer's hand. (This is the type of sheath that Adi has. Requires a military grade neural net and very fast reflexes as the knife ejects blade first and the wearer must catch the handle. For most people with normal, non-jacked reflexes, it looks as if Adi's knife suddenly just appeared in her hand.)
• Mag-lock dock: Vehicle/armor integrated docking slot that interfaces with Asteria/armor net. (Adi's sheaths are a variant of this type. When in armor, Adi cannot use her stilettos. Out of her armor, Adi's neural net now inhabited by Asteria blends the speed of a sentient AI and Adi's seriously jacked neural net for even faster reflexes.)