Ksethu (world)/secret
Ksethu (Gvurrdon 1112) is home to two secrets.
The first secret concerns the discovery of naturally-formed zuchai crystals in deposits in the inner belt and cooling in the orange light and dim heat of the red dwarf Lantern. As the find was unearthed by a Thirz Empire government survey in 1135, it was thought best to slowly and carefully transport the minerals to other worlds and then marketed with falsified source. This was done to prevent an already Pre-High and Pre-Industrial world from suffering a gold rush by belters of Dzen and Uerra Rueshken subsectors. The secret was kept until 1191 when the source was illegally leaked to the public media of both the Thriz Empire and the bitter Society of Equals. Coupled with the lanthanum deposits found in Khaeknae (Gvurrdon 0815), Ksethu was found capable to purchase both resources for its shipyards and starship assembly under kickbacks and given subtle priority. The leak initiated a new wave of smuggling and Corsair activity from Rimward hideouts out of both worlds, causing a security threat along the Edge border between the Thirz Empire and the reduced Society of Equals.
The second secret, concerning the psychic wave-front loosely named the Empress Wave, holds that there was a secret haven vault installed in the inner belt in opposition across Lantern from Ksethu Rock Beltport. Hidden inside a solar powered asteroid hangar was a heavily psi-shielded catacomb vault and array of cryo-sleep capsules, also called Low Berths, for psionicists and full-fledged Psions to seek shelter from the oncoming Wave. It was believed, given sketchy reports, that technology similar to psi-shield helmets from the Third Imperium could be embedded inside the thick, leaden walls of the vault as well as helmets worn by psionic occupants to be put to sleep in hopes of weathering the oncoming phenomenon. Psionic Vargr and Zhodani who could not return to the Zhodani Consulate in time were to hopefully sleep through the maddening energies of the Empress Wave.
As with typical Low Berths, a significant proportion of Psions did not live to revive from cryo-sleep. Many others awoke to madness regardless and had to be euthanized to mitigate damage from their out of control psionic talents. A small percentage of shielded, sleeping Psions managed to emerge unscathed, though almost all reported a change in attitude, a sense of dread, or a hallucination of an “Empress In Black” that plagued their concentration for the remainder of their lives. Though most managed to take up their careers with no loss of efficiency, all were put on oversight watch by the Zhodani Tavrchedl’, the Oruelaen and various psionics-aware agencies after the passing of the Empress Wave.
After 1171, the vault was re-opened and surviving Psions were carefully awakened, re-tested for errant behaviors and then watchfully registered and released to their dormant vessels or to commute to Ksethu Beltport. Those Psions who died or were put down were transported to their listed homeworlds with letters of apology from the Ksethu government.
"When I next opened my eyes enough to focus them, it was to the brandish of more than ten longarms and pistols trained on me. Lethargic and surprised, I stayed still as I was subjected to a battery of questions about me, my last memories before sleeping, current emotional feelings, any drives to violence or self-harm or other strange notions. I answered the questions as the doctors performed tests on my vitals. It was not until helped to stand up from my capsule that I saw her, the Empress In Black, the rumored entity that so many telepaths and other Psions reported riding their opened minds. I swallowed hard and wisely kept my mouth shut through the examinations, re-testing, registration and waiver release forms I had to sign. It was like I was tagged and released.”
“I was nursing my first coffee since awakening when I heard a commotion at the capsule of the next Psion to be revived. Nandhurel was the name I overheard them call her. A bloody screech of a scream came up from the female’s sleep chamber. Four Thirz Marines went flying from her telekinetic psi-wave, to crash upon the floor or other capsules. I reflexed and almost spilled my beverage when the other six Marines opened up on her. Full auto.”
“Arrllu I remembered from before I laid down to sleep. But awakening today, he held it together as they tested him. But one first look at his Empress In Black and he lost his shit. His psi-enhanced body tore up three Marines as he Infought his way to where he believed she stood imperious. When they [the Marines] went full auto, Arrllu fell, I guess at the dress hem of Her Psionic Majesty.”
“It is truly heartbreaking to see mated spouse Psions have to be separated, often permanently, by the phenomenon’s effects. My heart weeps at this vigil and what we must often do.”
“Many died from sleeping too long. Few woke up and then they died, unable to jump-start their bodies. Still fewer came out as they went in, instead locked inside their minds. I heard a couple of Psions who went insane from remaining unfortunately fully-conscious and aware the entire duration. Then there was the fraction who woke up and out of control with the madness. Some had to be psi-dampened. Others….they weren’t so lucky. So, when I say I won the lottery, having woken with an occasional dread of Yonder Chilling Thought, I won the lottery in so many ways.”