Well, I'm going to posit a logical explanation for the sudden leaps of tech, just to demonstrate what a master storywriter I am. </showoff>
NEWS FLASH!
-SUBSTANTIAL CRYSTAL REFORMATION ON ONCOL III-
<scene: a hostile area with erupting volcano>
An outpost on the uninhabitable Oncol III, commonly called "Hell's Dump" for its high concentration of unusually toxic substances and irregular but common volcanic eruptions, has just reported high unobtainum levels following the creation of a massive rift that spewed out several tons of ejecta from near the planet's core during its conception.
<scene: talking reporter>
Even trace quantities of unobtainium are highly prized in all areas of research; the outpost reported several kilograms before being swept away by a river of lava. We now go straight to the Oncol Space Station, where the Dictator has scrambled the Sojournership's three most elite military units and directed them to drag a scientist with them post haste;
<scene: 1st person view of spaceship door in docking area>
(Reporter) "Excuse me, this vital event-"
(Scientist) "YOU ****** FOOL GET OUT NOW YOU'RE DELAYING US-"
(R) "-must be covered, would you"
(S) "AND WE - PRIVATES; THROW THIS MAN OUT!"
[grunts appear on screen]
(R) "You wouldn't..."
[Camera pans wildly]
(R) "...dare"
[crashing noise, camera points at unrelated area]
<scene: talking reporter>
As you can see, there appear to be technical problems at the spaceport. Furthermore, the outpost has stopped reporting and is presumed destroyed.
Should they reach Oncol III in time, the military teams will attempt to simply force-scoop up as much material as they can, flinging it into orbit with a reserve motor and an escape pod. Then they will make a second flyover, attempting to scoop up what unobtainum they can from a more concentrated deposit.
The reason for all the haste is, as I'm sure you all know, the fact that unobtainum is metastable at high temperatures, so besides the risk of it simply being buried under lava flows, it may also spontaneously dissolve.
In twelve hours, we'll know whether the Sojournership gets its unobtainum. If we do, there will be immense benefits, so I'll ask all our viewers to wish them good luck.
