2012 - MASS EFFEC FIC

Old and disjointed. No idea what baby Mar was up to, tbh.
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THE IMPERIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM BROCHURE

 

1. What are psionics?

Psionics are the physical manifestation of one’s will over natural laws. Physiological differences make these more prominent in warmblooded individuals: while the majority of abilities come from specialized forms of telekinesis, over the millenia, the higher rate of reproduction means that the vast majority of warm bloodlines have adapted biologically to support these abilities with greater ease…

2. What are psychics?

Psychics are the mental exertion of one’s will over another. Due to the presence of receptors located in the Wallac organ, all trolls are capable of receiving basic psychic signals, save in cases of burn-out. The lower temperatures of higher caste trolls stunts the growth of the Wallac organ, while encouraging the growth of the Johnston, with the disparity growing larger with each drop in temperature – the consequence of this is the higher propensity towards psychic immunity increases significantly as one goes up in the hemospectrum, while psychic abilities typically stall at indigo.

- PARANORMAL ABILITIES: EXPLAINED, CHAPTER FIVE: THE ORIGIN OF POWER

PAGE ONE OF THE IMPERIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM BROCHURE:

PSIONICS AND YOU

Of the global population of trolls, only 30% possess any form of paranormal abilities – a term hence forth used to refer to abilities beyond the norm established in one’s caste. These abilities are generally classified as either psionics, the manipulation of reality, or as psychic, the manipulation of minds. Psionic abilities most frequently appear amongst lowbloods, and can affect every member of society: however, psychic abilities are largely restricted to highbloods, and significantly decrease in effect the higher one’s caste rises.

IMPORTANT FACTS: Maroonbloods are easily led by a skilled psychic, but a violet’s thinkpan requires finesse and raw strength for the psychic to produce the slightest effect!

The fact that psionic abiltiies are more common, and more universally effective, than psychic abilities may lead a troll to question how this does not lead to an unusual, unfair advantage among the lower populations. After all, psionic abilities are far more varied than even the most unorthodox of psychics: while there are only six recognized schools of psychic derivation, there are over ten known for psionics, and numerous splits within these fields. While the same TRIDENT amplifier may be used among a variety of gunners, psionics have such variation in both their abilities and the manifestation of these abilities that technology is often required to be custom-built to fit them.

So why do lowbloods not use this unfair advantage over their superiors?

The answer to this lies in the inherent frailty of lowbloods, and the risk that is unique to them:

Burn-out.

Highblood bloodlines evolve slowly, and when changes occur in them, there is plenty of time for the slurry to build up defenses. A Selcis born in the fourteenth dynasty’s ability of mind control may differ from their descendant in the two hundredth dynasty’s bodily possession. However, mutations in blueblood bloodlines is rare, and when they do occur, tend to be the result of a thousand minor edits over the course of generations by the time the new attribute appears. The vast amount of time and the weight of colder blood allows the descendant’s genome to have prepared for these changes.

Lowblood reproductive turnover, however, is high, and the warmth of the blood encourages mutations to a much higher extent than highbloods. Maroonbloods can produce a descendant as quickly as twenty years after their first genetic contribution! In addition to this, while highblood psychics have only ever manifested a handful of abilities, lowblood bloodlines encompass the full range. The constant evolution of psionic abilities, the fast rate of contribution, and the strain of their psionics on already weak bodies results in warmer thinkpans being inherently inefficient.

And while psychic brains are optimized towards using their abilities, devleopment of the psionic channels necessary for using their abilities can vary significantly even between individuals of the same bloodline. The natural stress of using one’s abilities in a pan ill-suited for them can lead to ruptures, seizures, collapses and more, all of which are colloquially referred to as ‘burnout’.

Ø CAN LOWBLOODS BE PSYCHICS?

While sub-olive castes are primarily psionics, with psychic abilities manifesting in jades and above, sometimes a rare, unusual lowblood can end up with psychic abilities! Lowblood thinkpans are inherently different from highbloods, however, and this shows in the way that their psychic tendencies manifest: while most borwnblooded psychics are capable of controlling beasts, it is relatively rare that one has the strength to ever influence their kin, or other weak-minded trolls.

Midblooded psychics are more common. The manifestation of paranormal abilities amongst the jade caste only appears in cusps, and do not appear among true jades; additionally, they only possess psychics, and psionics are typically a sign of other, external mutations. While stronger than the lower castes, these are rarely on par with cerulean’s. Midbloods get the worst of both worlds, in that their abilities are weaker while still maintaining the tendency towards burnout, and medicullers advise they simply choose not to use those abilities, for their own safety.

Ø CAN A TROLL POSSESS BOTH PSYCHIC AND PSIONIC ABILITIES?

Although rare, this phenomena is known as the DIOSCURI SYNDROME, named after a famous oliveblooded construct wielder and mind-controller from the fourth False Empress’s reign. Most commonly found amongst lowbloods, the Dioscuri is one of the few permitted mutations for the use it offers to the Empire. Those with Dioscuri syndrome are identifiable primarily by their doubled horns, which grant them a significantly higher-than-average rate of power – something noteworthy, given they primarily occur in the yellow-green spectrum, already known for the highest known average for psionic output.

Those who possess this mutation are often encouraged to donate young, as the larger amount of psi causes a higher risk of burn-out, a larger propensity towards voidrot, and a significant gap in control as compared to their peers. While Dioscuri Syndrome is considered an ideal mutation, and trolls possessing it are frequently exempt from usual standards, this is partially because those with it rarely live to serve the Empire along. They burn bright – and then, inevitably, they burn out.

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PAGE FIVE OF THE IMPERIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM BROCHURE:

IMPERIAL TECHNOLOGY: GUNNERS

When one thinks of psionic technology, the first thing that comes to mind are helmcolumns. After all, helming is the foundation upon which the Empire is built, and they are the best that our Empire has to offer in terms of harnessing the raw potential of a psionic. The deep integration offered by a proper column keeps the helm healthy, safe and protected against not only the risk of burn-out, but all of the danger in the ship. Biowire properties naturally dispel bacteria and viruses alike, keeping the ports of the helm clean and all of their interior functions running without the need for external maintenance, and the cushioning of the helmscolumn means that most helms are, on a sweep-by-sweep basis, prone to significantly less injury, distress or wear than the average troll on the front-lines.

But helmcolumns, while vital and important to our Empire, are hardly the only form of technology!

The Imperial Education Program is unique among the programs for its novel approach to technology. While other programs, such as the Psionic Corps and the Psihounds, rely on mechanical ports that require direct integration into their soldiers bodies – a process that requires antibiotics, surgeries and downtime for the participants – the IEP almost exclusively uses wetware for all of its technology. Made directly from the receptient’s cells to prevent rejection, the technology can integrate into the nervous system much in the same way that a parasite does. There is no need for long wait times, or the risks of surgery! Installation for many students can be as easy as swallowing a pill, or inserting an egg into the spine and allowing nature to do the rest.

PORT TECHNOLOGY:

HELMS COLUMNS:

TRIDENT HARNESS:

MANDIBLES are one of the programs