The Assignment

Definition

The Assignment is the the Imperial scale used with which to measure the psi activity and power levels of psykers. The range of the scale consists of twenty-four increasing levels, making it simpler to compare the abilities of two different individuals and their possible threat to the Imperium.

The "average" Human being has a psi activity rating of Rho or Pi, these ratings indicate that the individual can not consciously or subconsciously draw from -or communicate through- the warp, and is therefore no threat to the security of the Imperium.

Any ratings above Pi this should be investigated by the Inquisition as psychic talents may manifest. However, it is more practicable for the inquisition to investigate individuals of Iota talents or greater.

Classifications of Psi Activity (in ascending order)

• Rho and Pi
  • Standard human psi activity - no manifestations of psychic talent.

• Omicron, Xi, Nu, Mu, Lambda and Kappa
  • Minor levels of psi activity which the individual may not be aware of or have any control over. Often manifesting a greater talent only when the individual is under high levels of stress, or subtly manifesting itself in a manner which can easily be explained away as phenomenons such as "good luck" or a "fluke".

• Iota, Theta and Eta
  • Psi activity which can manifest itself with conscious effort. Individuals with a rating of Iota or above are Psykers and are therefore under the durisdiction of Imperial Law and may be drafted into Imperial institutions such as the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.

• Zeta and Epsilon
  • Very high levels of psi activity, manifesting itself as a powerful psychic talent which requires immediate Inquisitorial investigation.

• Delta and Gamma
  • "Master Level" psykers manifesting prodigious psychic talent who are rare to the point of one-per-billion in humans.

• Beta and Alpha
  • Very rare and very high levels of psi activity which present a dangerous threat to the Imperium. It is believed that human brains cannot contain these power levels and therefore are usually sufferers of some mental instability, which makes them even more difficult to deal with or to predict.

Alpha Plus

The twenty-four point Imperial scale functions adequately for the purposes of comparison and investigation. Although there are sometimes individuals of such power who pass beyond the scale entirely. These are known as Alpha Plus level psykers.

Any psyker at this level of psi activity is a catastrophic threat to the Imperium and must be contained and/or executed. Alpha plus humans also always suffer from insanity meaning that their capture is almost always a large and bloody affair consisting of several Imperial institutions working in concert.

Negative Ratings

The Imperial scale does also extend below Rho into levels of psi-inactivity. While such individuals are not particularly threatening to the Imperium as they have no ability to manipulate the warp, they do present interesting avenues of study for Inquisitors.

Classifications of Psi-Inactivity (In descending order)

• Rho
  • Standard human psi activity

• Sigma and Tau
  • Psi-inactive individuals who are oblivious to warp presences and psychic talents.

• Upsilon, Phi, Chi and Psi
  • "Blunt" individuals who may be immune to the psychic powers of others.

• Omega
  • Often known as Untouchables, Pariahs or Blanks these individuals are so psi-inert that they actually have a negative psychic influence on others. This primarily manifests in a region of psi nullification around themselves that psychic powers or warp entities cannot penetrate.
  • This level of psi-negativity can also be sensed by others, often resulting in irrational fear or loathing of the untouchable, which increases the further up the psi-scale of the person in question, to the point that it is uncomfortable or even painful for psykers to be near an untouchable.

Sources

• The Inquisition - Nick Kyme, Lindsey Priestly, George Stirling (2007) Black Library Publishing.
• Eisenhorn Trilogy
• For The Emperor by Sandy Mitchell
• Codex: Assassins (3rd Edition)