Psi Corps
Encyclopedia
In the fictional universe
of Babylon 5
, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance
responsible for all humans with telepathic
or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime imprisonment, or submit to a lifetime of drug treatments to suppress their abilities. Prolonged treatment with these drugs has a depressing effect. Susan Ivanova
's mother committed suicide after ten years under treatment.
. Following panic and persecution when telepathic abilities in certain individuals were confirmed, the Psi Corps was created as part of EarthForce by Earth Alliance
to protect telepaths, but also to identify and control them.
The Psi Corps' headquarters has hospitals, offices and a boarding school where young people possessing telepathic and telekinetic power (known colloquially in the series as teeps
and teeks) can develop without the fear and persecution they would face among the normal population (referred to by psychics in the series as mundane
s). This school is overseen by the monitors (nicknamed grins), which appear in Susan Ivanova
's nightmare about the Corps and her mother. (Family names are matrilineal: the mother's maiden-name is passed down to the children, which is why female telepaths such as Lyta Alexander
and Talia Winters
carry their surname down the generations.)
The Corps was originally established to protect, nurture and train humans with Psi abilities, and to protect the mundane population from possible abuse or criminal activities by talented individuals. At some point the Corps realized that it could not be effectively monitored by any external authority, and the Corps developed into a fascist state-within-a-state, pursuing its own agenda using the Psi Cops and other means, and taking an active role in Earth politics.
By the time of the pilot movie, Babylon 5: The Gathering
, the Corps has degenerated to the point where many potential and former members prefer a life on-the-run as rogue psychics (referred to by the Corps as blips) to the safety and comfort of living and working under its wing.
. While Psi Cops claim to only want to bring rogue telepaths back to the Psi Corps family, they are likely to kill a rogue telepath upon capturing one. Psi Cops possess a rating of P-12. P-13s or slightly higher are a rarity and some of those that are eventually found out to be P-13s, also become rogue telepaths and go on the run in fear of what the Psi Corp will do with them through experiments ("A Race Through Dark Places
"). Psi Corps also use telepaths of lower ratings in support roles.
Psi Corps has attempted to increase a telepath's abilities through genetic manipulations and experiments; one such experimentation produced enhanced abilities in a P-10 level telepath named Jason Ironheart, in an attempt to produce a stable of telekinetics and stronger telepaths for the Psi Corps. Ironheart volunteered to have his telepathic powers increased, but they soon became unstable. He fled from Psi-Corps, eventually coming to the space station Babylon 5
where he set up an escape route for other rogue telepaths, but was pursued by Psy Cop Alfred Bester
. However, Ironheart began to undergo destructive mindquakes, releasing bursts of psychokinetic energy so powerful that they threatened the station. As Ironheart realized that his abilities had grown too great to contain, he discorporated his physical form, but not before leaving Talia with a gift; enhanced telepathic shields, and even a bit of telekinesis of her own (Mind War
).
Doctor Stephen Franklin
of Babylon 5 participated in an underground railroad to help rogue telepaths escape from the Corps ("A Race Through Dark Places
"). Eventually, the telepaths who escaped provided assistance during the closing days of the Shadow War
. Later on, President John Sheridan
of the Interstellar Alliance allowed rogue telepaths to form a small colony on Babylon 5. The situation ended in violence when the Psi Cops attempted to take the rogue telepaths back to Earth.
After the colony on Babylon 5 was forced to leave following the death of its leader, Byron
, Lyta Alexander
began a crusade against the Psi Corps. Her actions led to a war in which rogue telepaths and non telepaths fought the Psi Corps. The old Psi Corps was destroyed, and a new Psionic Monitoring Commission was built to replace it.
Once the Telepath War was over, the Psionic Monitoring Commission dedicated itself to hunting down those members of the Corps who committed war crimes, such as Alfred Bester
. Bester was eventually captured and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison with his abilities taken away by drugs. Many private schools were founded to educate telepaths; they met with mixed success. Telepaths were allowed a much wider range of options as far as their lives were concerned. Rather than having to join the Psi Corps, they were able to do almost anything they wanted. This included joining the Earth Alliance military and working for private organizations.
Mention is made in the show and related media of individuals who may be so powerful as to rate outside the scale entirely, often referred to as P13s. The scale does not measure telekinetic abilities, but as one out of 10,000 human telepaths have TK and roughly one out of three telekinetics (teeks) is sane, this is not a significant issue. The telepathic measurement systems of alien races are not described in the series, nor are non-human telekinetics mentioned.
). A person taking a mind burst experiences an overload of incoming telepathic information, which will cause the person to pass out.
A telepath is usually depicted as being born with telepathic abilities or developing them gradually in childhood. But in the case of those people with latent telepathic abilities, the ability can be suddenly switched on. Stress or body changes can cause this.
People experiencing a mind burst are usually taken in for medical care. When they wake up, a trained telepath is usually on hand to help them. Prior to the Telepath War, new telepaths were either made to join the Psi Corps or take drugs (colloquially called sleepers) to block their abilities. Many telepaths ran away to keep from being forced into the Corps. After the war, telepaths had more freedom in choosing their futures.
, and cause distress in surrounding telepaths and mundanes.
People experiencing a mind quake are always taken in for medical care. When they wake up, a trained telepath is usually on hand to help them and if they prove too unstable they are given drugs to block their abilities, or they are neutralized by involuntary surgery.
The effects of Dust seem to be a combination of LSD and cocaine, with the user experiencing some types of Psi powers for the duration of the effect of the drug. It is targeted at humans, but one episode follows G'Kar, a non-human Narn, who has tried it to get a taste of the Psi powers his race has lost. Babylon 5 physicians will suspect dust use if two persons have a unique, shared experience. For example, a dust user might complain of a mountain falling upon him while his victim is an avalanche survivor.
Dust is revealed to be a covert program of the Psi Corps. Officially it began as way to locate latent telepaths, create telepaths out of mundanes, and perhaps to amplify the powers of known telepaths. No mention is made of the cash flow inherent in such a popular form of high value contraband that would flow to Psi Corps.
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
responsible for all humans with telepathic
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime imprisonment, or submit to a lifetime of drug treatments to suppress their abilities. Prolonged treatment with these drugs has a depressing effect. Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
's mother committed suicide after ten years under treatment.
Purpose and operation
The origin and early history of the Psi Corps are revealed in a series of books written by Gregory KeyesGregory Keyes
Gregory Keyes is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy who has written both original and media-related novels under both the names "J. Gregory Keyes" and "Greg Keyes". He is famous for his quartet The Age of Unreason, a steampunk/alchemical story starring Benjamin Franklin and Isaac...
. Following panic and persecution when telepathic abilities in certain individuals were confirmed, the Psi Corps was created as part of EarthForce by Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
to protect telepaths, but also to identify and control them.
The Psi Corps' headquarters has hospitals, offices and a boarding school where young people possessing telepathic and telekinetic power (known colloquially in the series as teeps
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
and teeks) can develop without the fear and persecution they would face among the normal population (referred to by psychics in the series as mundane
Mundane
In subcultural and fictional uses, a mundane is a person who does not belong to a particular group, according to the members of that group; the implication is that such persons, lacking imagination, are concerned solely with the mundane: the quotidian and ordinary...
s). This school is overseen by the monitors (nicknamed grins), which appear in Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
's nightmare about the Corps and her mother. (Family names are matrilineal: the mother's maiden-name is passed down to the children, which is why female telepaths such as Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.Lyta was introduced in the pilot episode "The Gathering" as a telepath assigned to the Babylon 5 space station by the Psi Corps, a fictional organization...
and Talia Winters
Talia Winters
Talia Winters is a fictional character appearing on the science fiction television show Babylon 5 during its first and second seasons. She was portrayed by actress Andrea Thompson....
carry their surname down the generations.)
The Corps was originally established to protect, nurture and train humans with Psi abilities, and to protect the mundane population from possible abuse or criminal activities by talented individuals. At some point the Corps realized that it could not be effectively monitored by any external authority, and the Corps developed into a fascist state-within-a-state, pursuing its own agenda using the Psi Cops and other means, and taking an active role in Earth politics.
By the time of the pilot movie, Babylon 5: The Gathering
Babylon 5: The Gathering
Babylon 5: The Gathering is the pilot movie of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. The telefilm aired on February 22, 1993...
, the Corps has degenerated to the point where many potential and former members prefer a life on-the-run as rogue psychics (referred to by the Corps as blips) to the safety and comfort of living and working under its wing.
The Psi Cops and opposition to the Corps
Psi Cops are members of a para-military body enforcing laws related to telepaths and operates with few checks against their authority. This is especially true when dealing with non-telepaths who have done violence against a member of the Psi Corps. For example, after capturing a murderer of telepaths, they implanted an image in his mind so horrifying that the person had to be permanently restrained to prevent him from ripping out his own eyes. In another case, a man who murdered a Psi Cop was ejected from a spaceshipSpace exposure
Space exposure is the subjection of a human to the conditions of outer space, without protective clothing and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere in a vacuum.-Explanation and history:...
. While Psi Cops claim to only want to bring rogue telepaths back to the Psi Corps family, they are likely to kill a rogue telepath upon capturing one. Psi Cops possess a rating of P-12. P-13s or slightly higher are a rarity and some of those that are eventually found out to be P-13s, also become rogue telepaths and go on the run in fear of what the Psi Corp will do with them through experiments ("A Race Through Dark Places
A Race Through Dark Places
"A Race Through Dark Places" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Psi Cop Bester returns to Babylon 5 to investigate an underground railroad of rogue telepaths...
"). Psi Corps also use telepaths of lower ratings in support roles.
Psi Corps has attempted to increase a telepath's abilities through genetic manipulations and experiments; one such experimentation produced enhanced abilities in a P-10 level telepath named Jason Ironheart, in an attempt to produce a stable of telekinetics and stronger telepaths for the Psi Corps. Ironheart volunteered to have his telepathic powers increased, but they soon became unstable. He fled from Psi-Corps, eventually coming to the space station Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
where he set up an escape route for other rogue telepaths, but was pursued by Psy Cop Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester (Babylon 5)
Alfred Bester is a Babylon 5 character played by Walter Koenig. He is a senior Psi Cop and a recurring antagonist in the series. J. Michael Straczynski named the character after the science fiction writer Alfred Bester, since telepathy is a recurring theme in his work .-Early Life and Career:The...
. However, Ironheart began to undergo destructive mindquakes, releasing bursts of psychokinetic energy so powerful that they threatened the station. As Ironheart realized that his abilities had grown too great to contain, he discorporated his physical form, but not before leaving Talia with a gift; enhanced telepathic shields, and even a bit of telekinesis of her own (Mind War
Mind War
"Mind War" is an episode from the first season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Talia Winters' old instructor at Psi-Corps, Jason Ironheart, whom she was also romantically linked with in the past, arrives on the station....
).
Doctor Stephen Franklin
Stephen Franklin
Stephen Franklin is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by the late Richard Biggs. He serves as the chief medical officer on the Babylon 5 space station.-Personality:...
of Babylon 5 participated in an underground railroad to help rogue telepaths escape from the Corps ("A Race Through Dark Places
A Race Through Dark Places
"A Race Through Dark Places" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Psi Cop Bester returns to Babylon 5 to investigate an underground railroad of rogue telepaths...
"). Eventually, the telepaths who escaped provided assistance during the closing days of the Shadow War
Shadow War
The Shadow Wars are a fictional series of wars involving the Shadows in the television science fiction series Babylon 5. There have actually been many Shadow Wars since ancient times in the galaxy. Roughly every thousand years, the Shadows begin a new Shadow War to promote chaos in the universe in...
. Later on, President John Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
of the Interstellar Alliance allowed rogue telepaths to form a small colony on Babylon 5. The situation ended in violence when the Psi Cops attempted to take the rogue telepaths back to Earth.
After the colony on Babylon 5 was forced to leave following the death of its leader, Byron
Byron (Babylon 5)
Byron Gordon, played by Robin Atkin Downes, is a fictional character from the television science fiction drama Babylon 5, introduced in the fifth and final season.- Fictional Biography :...
, Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.Lyta was introduced in the pilot episode "The Gathering" as a telepath assigned to the Babylon 5 space station by the Psi Corps, a fictional organization...
began a crusade against the Psi Corps. Her actions led to a war in which rogue telepaths and non telepaths fought the Psi Corps. The old Psi Corps was destroyed, and a new Psionic Monitoring Commission was built to replace it.
Once the Telepath War was over, the Psionic Monitoring Commission dedicated itself to hunting down those members of the Corps who committed war crimes, such as Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester (Babylon 5)
Alfred Bester is a Babylon 5 character played by Walter Koenig. He is a senior Psi Cop and a recurring antagonist in the series. J. Michael Straczynski named the character after the science fiction writer Alfred Bester, since telepathy is a recurring theme in his work .-Early Life and Career:The...
. Bester was eventually captured and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison with his abilities taken away by drugs. Many private schools were founded to educate telepaths; they met with mixed success. Telepaths were allowed a much wider range of options as far as their lives were concerned. Rather than having to join the Psi Corps, they were able to do almost anything they wanted. This included joining the Earth Alliance military and working for private organizations.
The P scale
The P Scale or Psi Scale is a method of measuring telepathic power used by the Psi Corps with lower ratings are more common than higher ones. However, the stronger the telepath's P-level, the more control and discipline is needed, as it becomes much harder to block out the random thoughts and voices of others; a low-ebb background 'noise' is generally heard by all teeps above a P-5 in their own thoughts. Training and careful focus is required to control and quiet down the background noises mentally heard by telepaths.- P-0s and P-1s are usually latent telepaths, with next to no abilities.
- P-2s and P-3s have weak abilities and may be used commercially.
- P-4s and P-5s are the most common commercial telepath levels, potent enough to be a valuable asset in negotiations. Training of P-5s can be tough; most of those who train burn out, and some become brain dead.
- P-6 to P-9s are military and government employed telepaths. Used and hired for intelligenceMilitary intelligenceMilitary intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
. - P10 is the upper level of Psi Corps training, and are assigned as instructors at Psi-Corp. P10s can read the mental actions of other telepaths and block heavy scans from higher P12s for a short time, perform long-range scans. A handful of P10s can perform telekinesis but these are rare and the ability unstable.
- P11s are in administration position of the Psi-Corps but can also be assigned as Psi-Cops.
- P12 is the highest official rating. Such teeps can become Psi Cops; they are able to read the minds of others at long ranges, have sufficient strength to break through blocks weaker teeps may build around their own minds, and can manipulate the memories of others mundanes and lower-ranged telepaths like the P5s. P12s can even communicate with normals via telepathy and detect and scan the levels of P5s although two may be required.
Mention is made in the show and related media of individuals who may be so powerful as to rate outside the scale entirely, often referred to as P13s. The scale does not measure telekinetic abilities, but as one out of 10,000 human telepaths have TK and roughly one out of three telekinetics (teeks) is sane, this is not a significant issue. The telepathic measurement systems of alien races are not described in the series, nor are non-human telekinetics mentioned.
Mind burst
A mind burst refers to the sudden switching on of a person's telepathic abilities (similar to the breaking out process of The Tomorrow PeopleThe Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
). A person taking a mind burst experiences an overload of incoming telepathic information, which will cause the person to pass out.
A telepath is usually depicted as being born with telepathic abilities or developing them gradually in childhood. But in the case of those people with latent telepathic abilities, the ability can be suddenly switched on. Stress or body changes can cause this.
People experiencing a mind burst are usually taken in for medical care. When they wake up, a trained telepath is usually on hand to help them. Prior to the Telepath War, new telepaths were either made to join the Psi Corps or take drugs (colloquially called sleepers) to block their abilities. Many telepaths ran away to keep from being forced into the Corps. After the war, telepaths had more freedom in choosing their futures.
Mind quake
A mind quake is the sudden uncontrolled surge in mental abilities of a telepath, usually with poor mental controls. A person having a mind quake experiences an overload of outgoing telepathic information, which will cause the person to pass out or have a strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, and cause distress in surrounding telepaths and mundanes.
People experiencing a mind quake are always taken in for medical care. When they wake up, a trained telepath is usually on hand to help them and if they prove too unstable they are given drugs to block their abilities, or they are neutralized by involuntary surgery.
Dust
Dust is a drug, smuggled from system to system in ways common to high-value/low-weight-and-bulk contraband. It trades at high prices and margins on the black markets, and is as hotly pursued by law enforcers in the way opiates are today. Implications are that if one is caught in possession or dealing, the penalties are quite harsh. Many black market operators refuse to deal dust because of the risks posed by law enforcement.The effects of Dust seem to be a combination of LSD and cocaine, with the user experiencing some types of Psi powers for the duration of the effect of the drug. It is targeted at humans, but one episode follows G'Kar, a non-human Narn, who has tried it to get a taste of the Psi powers his race has lost. Babylon 5 physicians will suspect dust use if two persons have a unique, shared experience. For example, a dust user might complain of a mountain falling upon him while his victim is an avalanche survivor.
Dust is revealed to be a covert program of the Psi Corps. Officially it began as way to locate latent telepaths, create telepaths out of mundanes, and perhaps to amplify the powers of known telepaths. No mention is made of the cash flow inherent in such a popular form of high value contraband that would flow to Psi Corps.
Notable quotes
- "The Corps is mother, the Corps is father." (Poster at Psi-Corps HQ)
- "The Psi Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps." (Subliminal message hidden in advertisement)
- "We Are Everywhere For Your Convenience." (Mentioned in advertisement)
- "Protect the family." (Poster at Psi-Corps HQ)
- "We know what you're thinking." (Poster at Psi-Corps HQ)
- "Obey." (Poster at Psi-Corps HQ)
Notable Psi Corps individuals
- Alfred Bester Alfred Bester (Babylon 5)Alfred Bester is a Babylon 5 character played by Walter Koenig. He is a senior Psi Cop and a recurring antagonist in the series. J. Michael Straczynski named the character after the science fiction writer Alfred Bester, since telepathy is a recurring theme in his work .-Early Life and Career:The...
(named for science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Alfred BesterAlfred BesterAlfred Bester was an American science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books...
) - Lyta AlexanderLyta AlexanderLyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.Lyta was introduced in the pilot episode "The Gathering" as a telepath assigned to the Babylon 5 space station by the Psi Corps, a fictional organization...
- Talia WintersTalia WintersTalia Winters is a fictional character appearing on the science fiction television show Babylon 5 during its first and second seasons. She was portrayed by actress Andrea Thompson....
- Jason Ironheart
- ByronByron (Babylon 5)Byron Gordon, played by Robin Atkin Downes, is a fictional character from the television science fiction drama Babylon 5, introduced in the fifth and final season.- Fictional Biography :...
Books about the Psi Corps
The Psi Corps Trilogy:- Dark Genesis: The Birth of the Psi Corps
- Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendant (Babylon 5)
- Final Reckoning: The Fate of Bester