Anti-laser evaporative coating

Anti-laser evaporative coating is a defensive system in use by most Imperial starships and fighters due to the Empire's inability to produce large-scale energy shields. Consisting of a dense polymer material vaporised and sprayed over the outer surface of the starship, the anti-laser coating acts as the first line of defence Imperial ships have against lasers, before the Yukitate Crystal Lattice.

The polymer material coats the outer surface of the starship. When a laser hits, the coating will absorb the heat and energy transferred by the laser. The upper layer of the coating will be vaporised in the process. The typical surface coating will consist of a dozen or of such micrometres-thick layers.

Anti-laser coating can withstand most high-powered lasers, but is not impervious and can be penetrated by sufficiently powerful lasers. The coating will also wear down from repeated short-term exposure to laser blasts, resulting in damage from laser attacks during long periods of continuous combat.