The suppression of the Psionics Institutes and practice of Psionics across imperial space
Psionics Suppressions, 800 to 826
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 institutes. Over a 26-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 guerilla 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 to mental privacy.
Historian Albert Croale raised an alternative theory for the Suppressions, which he called the "Crisis of '99".
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 psionics institutes within the region spinward of Corridor sector (about 60% of all institutes ) 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 ground-work 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 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 supressions 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 strong anti-psionic feeling engendered in the public has even made it difficult for the Imperium to use psionics for its own, official purposes.
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 10 years, first "suppressed" the various charters (rendering them temporarily suspended) and then revoked tham at a later date. 65 suppression orders were issued, numbers 2 through 66 (SO1 was a general order to the realm concerning the issue) followed by 65 orders for revokation (SO67 to SO131). Of these, actual records indicate that SO83 and SO96 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 have been revoked; in actuality, two institutes have retained their charters, now under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence .
One institute remains at its original site at Terra ( Sol / Solomani Rim 1827). The revocation order was cancelled in 1014.
One institute, originally sited at Regina ( Regina / Spinward Marches 1910), has been re-established at Wypoc ( Lanth / Spinward Marches 2011), while retaining a low-level recruiting establishment as part of the naval base at Regina.