When human beings managed to grasp the basics for the Psionics, a whole new world opened before them: a world when power comes not from technology, information processing, or other humans' dependence, but mind properties of an individual. As it often happens, this discovery incited mass fear at first, but also received interest from the governments around the world - especially in poor countries, looking for sources of power alternative to expensive technology. Empoverished countries like Egypt soon launched large-scale psion recruitment campaigns, over just a few years building special divisions called the Psi-Ops, excelling in counter-intelligence and diplomacy (not to mention more mundane tasks, like police operations), since a psion was extremely difficult to deceive. This has caused a jerk-reaction in the more advanced states, whose previous attitude towards their own psions was reserved at best; as it took a psion to match a psion, they also quickly started to employ Psi-Ops as diplomats, officials, and military commanders. In just two decades, the rare psions became the new aristocracy of the 23rd Century, occupying many prominent seats in diplomacy, military, and management. The Artifficial Intelligences weren't happy; the same went for egalitarians.