Psionics Suppressions
The revelation of scandals (financial, ethical, and moral) within the Psionics Institutes in the years 772 to 798 resulted in a shift in public opinion against the institute. Over a twenty-six year period, various institute charters were cancelled, leading figures jailed or otherwise repressed, and restrictive laws passed limiting or prohibiting the practice of psionics. Many institute figures went underground, to espouse their cause in a type of guerrilla war.
Popular prejudice against Psionics continues to the present day. The average citizen will admit to a general dislike of psionics, and if pressed, will usually state that psionics violates a person's right of mental privacy.
Restricted: In the latter half of the 700's, high Imperial figures (the Office of the Emperor and the Intelligence Agency) became convinced that the approximately 60% 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 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 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 states were informed (through private channels) that the Imperium knew of the upcoming war and was prepared for it. War was averted, but the suppressions succeeded far better than the Imperium had envisioned. Public opinion swung widely against psionics and became solidified in the form of strong local laws and customs. The suppression campaign continued for twenty-six 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 only because psionics gives such an important advantage against law enforcement officials.
Sixty-five psionics institutes held Imperial charters in 800. The suppression orders issued by Paula II, appearing over a period of ten years, first "suppressed" the various charters, 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 sixty-five orders for revocation (SO67 to SO131). 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 have retained their charters, now under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense.
- Source: Supplement 11 Library Data (N-Z)
Non-Canon
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