Psionic Suppressions
In the latter half of the 700's, high Imperial figures including the office
of the Emperor and the Intelligence Agency) became convinced that the approximately
60 percent of the psionics institutes within the region spinward of the Corridor
sector were being financed, at least in part, by Zhodani money. Indeed,
there is a natural affinity between the institutes and the Zhodani (with
their long-standing history of psionics study and training). The Zhodani
were believed by many at that time to be laying the groundwork for a "fifth
column" to operate in Imperial space during a war planned to break out between
810 and 820. The Imperium moved to combat this.
Evidence of scandal was uncovered (or perhaps it was merely fabricated) and
released with careful attention to public opinion. Simultaneously,
high level officials at the sector and subsector levels were apprised of
the true situation, and both the Zhodani and the Vargr state were informed
(through private channels) that the Imperium knew of the upcoming war and
was prepared for it. Was was averted, but the suppressions succeeded
far better than even the Imperium had envisioned. Public opinion swung
widely against psionics and became solidified in the form of strong local
laws and customs against psionics. The suppression campaign continues
for 26 years before its formal halt. Many small, local campaigns have
occurred since.
The cancellation of the charters of the various psionics institutes effectively
removed them from the community. They have continued to exist at all
only because psionics gives such an important advantage to those who have
it against enforcement officials.
Sixty-five psionics institutes held Imperial charters in 800. The
suppression orders issued by Paula II, which appeared over a period of 10
years, first "suppressed" the various charter, rendering them temporarily
suspended and then revoked them at a later date. Sixty-five suppression
orders were issued, numbers 2 through 66 (SO 1 was a general order to the
realm concerning the issue), followed by 65 orders for revocation (SO 67
to SO 131). Of these, actual records indicate that SO 83 and SO 96
were themselves revoked by orders published elsewhere. The result is
that a cursory examination of the SO files will reveal all Imperial charters
of psionics institutes to have been revoked; in actuality, two institutes
retained their charters under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense.
One institute, however, even now remains at its original site, at Terra
(Sol 0207). The revocation order was canceled in 1014. Another
institute, which was originally sited at Regina, has now been reestablished
at Wypoc (Lanth 0401), but it retains a low level recruiting establishment
as part of the Navy base at Regina.
Both Imperial -chartered Psionics Institutes are under military control,
and are engaged in psionics research. Their existence is of the utmost
secrecy.
See also Psionics Institute, Psychohistory.
-IE ldr