One of the most universally studied and feared applications of technomagical synthesis is one that was discovered in the late 22nd century: that of Matter-Energy Displacement, more colloquially known as MED.
The technology behind MED was derived from the principle of the “Ether Mote", a type of magical energy capable of developing a harmonic synthesis between matter and ether. The Mote was discovered through reverse-engineering of common Elven enchantments; most spells that confer elemental properties such as strengths and weaknesses are created through a process that creates a charged cluster of Ether Motes, sending them by some conductive means through the material to be enchanted. Ether Motes seem to 'prefer' staying in a single material or object, which is why it is safe to cast an enchantment on a weapon without fear of enchanting the wielder as well.
Many Ether Motes are created already charged with an magical alignment, meaning that an enchantment using them will instantly confer whatever element that is integral to the spell to the target. It was discovered, however, that this is not strictly necessary; Ether Motes are, by nature, unaligned and simply fuse with matter to give it a far superior elemental-absorbing property. Some types of matter, such as iron, flesh and stone, synthesize more easily with Ether Motes than others, such as alcohol, plastic or other synthetic materials.
MED itself was invented shortly after the creation of a peculiar, synthetic set of magical “elements": one discovered by the Trans-Di weaponry scientist Aram Washington called the Polar Elements. Washington referred to them more playfully as “The Magi-netic Elements". Despite the whimsical title, Washington's discovery was quite significant; rather than having polar elements cause damage, reaction or debilitation in one another (as the elven elements do), the positive and negative synthetic elements simply attract, and repel like elements in the same fashion that real magnets do. They also proved to be reliable and could be passively charged by running a “red” electricity current through a living target.
(editor's note: article on the tri-color electro-magical reaction classification system coming soon.)
That done, the groundwork for MED technology had been laid. With the combination of the Synthetic Polar Element System and the discovery of Ether Mote creation technology (also powered by a living, ether-capable target and “red” electricity), the superior weapons engineers of Trans-Di, Incorporated wasted little time in incorporating both for the production of one of the Age of Corporation's most fearsome weapon classification: MED.
The MED gun is powered by a magic-capable target and a Red Battery to stimulate the production of magic from it. A simple device controls the production and charging of Ether Motes, and also a rudimentary shield generator, and there are a pair of permanently Polar-charged stones at the back and front of the barrel; one positive, one negative.
Pulling the trigger runs a low current through the wielder of the gun (later models are capable of operating through gloves, but early ones are not), triggering a surge of reactive magical power from it. This power is converted into a cluster of Ether Motes which are then immediately charged by the Polar-charged stones, separating into a cluster of Positive Motes further back in the magic-reinforced barrel and a cluster of Negative Motes further forward.
The Negative Motes are immediately sealed off before they can 'absorb' the air in the barrel of the gun. The Positive Motes are allowed to absorb the air and are then released, repelling from one another immediately and pushing the Negative Motes forcefully from the gun. The lens at the front of the gun draws an immediate shield about the Motes that will protect them until they hit a solid target, and the Negative Motes propel through space quickly, having no material form and unhampered by any kind of resistance.
Upon traveling into a target, the shield 'bubble' bursts, releasing the Negative-charged Motes. They immediately absorb with the material of the target and then propel away from one another at great speed, making a chunk of the target literally tear itself apart.
Naturally, the invention of Matter Energy Displacement had a great effect on the weapons development of New Washington. Because of the dangerous nature of the discovery and the ease with which the construction and operation process could be altered, the research regarding Ether Motes, The Polar Elements and MED itself have been kept relatively confidential by Trans-Di and, of course, the Federal Government. All Guardians carry standard-issue MED Pistols, but the security on such devices is high and MED technology is not found in many other places. Only the highest-profile criminals and Corporate leaders dare to carry MED weapons; even Corporate Militia forces do not have access to such technology.
Though other etherscience has made progress in New Washington, none is such a solid symbol of etherscience itself as Matter-Energy Displacement.