Psionics and Imperial High Law

[l_c_jackson]

In the OTU in the years around the outbreak of the 5th Frontier War there are Imperial worlds on which psionics are technically legal (under local law), and canon suggestions that psionics are (or have sometimes been) a breach of Imperial High Law. There is also canon evidence that the Imperial armed forces are licensed to use psionics.

(Details available on request.)

So, imagine that a local civilian on Efate (a law level 0, Imperial member world) walks up to the fence separating them from the Imperial territory of the starport (where psionics are illegal). They walk round it until they can see the local office of the Imperial Ministry of Justice. Standing on Efate territory, but in full view of the Ministry of Justice staff, just for mischief they decide to use psionics to levitate.

Q1 What can the Ministry agents do in response to this baiting, without breaking Efate law? If they call the local planetary police on the other side of the extraterritoriality fence what sort of reply will they get?

Q2 Imperial army units are deployed on Efate territory, suppressing the Ine Givar rebels. Suppose they happen to encounter a psionic civilian unconnected with the rebels. Can they detain the "perp" without breaching Efate law?

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

Call the “Local planetary police” on a LAW-0 world?

“Glip’s farm. Whaddaya want?”

“I need to speak to the Chief of Police! This is an emergency!”

“No kidding? Hang on. Hey Glip! Someone wants to talk to ya! Says it’s a ‘merjency’!”

<muffled background voice>

“Whozziss, please?”

“Sergeant Boyle, Port Authority. There’s Zhodani outside the gate, levitating themselves and looking suspicious!”

“Ooo, sounds nasty. One moment. Glip! He says your boys are down by the starport playing tricks again...”

<muffled background voice>

“Okay, I’m back. Glip says to tell those ‘Zhoes’ to high-tail it on home ‘cuz supper’s almost ready, and if they miss it again, then it’s just too bad...”

Yup, just another day on Efate!

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Some thoughts.

In the OTU in the years around the outbreak of the 5th Frontier War there are Imperial worlds on which psionics are technically legal (under local law), and canon suggestions that psionics are (or have sometimes been) a breach of Imperial High Law. There is also canon evidence that the Imperial armed forces are licensed to use psionics.

(Details available on request.)

So, imagine that a local civilian on Efate (a law level 0, Imperial member world) walks up to the fence separating them from the Imperial territory of the starport (where psionics are illegal). They walk round it until they can see the local office of the Imperial Ministry of Justice. Standing on Efate territory, but in full view of the Ministry of Justice staff, just for mischief they decide to use psionics to levitate.

Q1 What can the Ministry agents do in response to this baiting, without breaking Efate law? If they call the local planetary police on the other side of the extraterritoriality fence what sort of reply will they get?

Nothing. They can do squat all. Oops, wait there is one thing....GET BACK TO WORK AND STOP LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW DAY DREAMING! And since you have all that free time, pick up some Villisino's case load.

Q2 Imperial army units are deployed on Efate territory, suppressing the Ine Givar rebels. Suppose they happen to encounter a psionic civilian unconnected with the rebels. Can they detain the "perp" without breaching Efate law?

They can totes put the arm on the pisonic if they are found with rebels. Rebellion supercedes local laws.

Or that be my guess.

 

[MThompson016]

1. Psionics are the one of the things the Imperium does override local law on. They have guns, and are operating for the Good of the Imperium (it's what they tell themselves), so the psi can be hauled away.

2. It's called an Imperial Intervention, and they have lots of guns. Psi are all potential Zhodani sleeper agents, to be detained on sight. If he's caught trying to escape, nobody will examine the wounds that closely.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

One thing about Psionics IMTU: If none of the PCs are psionic, then the penalties for being psionic are universally enforced and universally harsh; but if even one PC is psionic, then the entire group is likely to find sympathetic support from the Psionics community sooner or later.

But, generally speaking, I discourage the persuit of psionic abilities IMTU.

 

[kilemall]

I have to think in wartime that psionics are doubly hunted down and the Imperium would have no compunction about coming in.

However, there is also a matter of resources being at a breaking point.

So, remember, law level 0 world. Works both ways. They can put a bounty out, in 24 hours you could have a whole planet looking to cash in on you. Or the professional quiet ones you don't know are coming until they are in your face.