Investors are becoming increasingly wary of industries dependent upon the ore mined by Psionics at Aganju. One problem after another continues to plague the areas overseen by Kinshasa-Mbali Mining Station in 61 Cygni, and ore production is suffering.First, there were the catastrophic cave-ins that rendered much of the mine complex essentially useless. Then most of the Psionic workers who survived the cave-ins refused to re-enter the mines. Now reports are surfacing that many of those Psis who are willing to enter the mines are suffering from new, bizarre maladies.
Net-7 has learned that despite round the clock humanitarian aid from EarthCorps soldiers, many Psionics who re-enter the Aganju mines now suffer from anxiety, stress, and a profound distrust of almost everything around them. Many Psis suffer from the inability to work, sleep, or eat. Some may even have hallucinations.
"They seem to lose themselves in some sort of alternate reality," explained one observer, who asked to remain anonymous. "They see you and speak to you, but it is almost as if they were speaking to you from another time."
Experts are baffled by the episodes, which are most likely to occur deep within the mines themselves -- far away from help that might be sent from the planet surface.
"The deeper they go, the riskier it gets," agreed one mine supervisor. "But the mines have been running so long, you need to go down pretty far to get to the ore deposits."
In addition, some Psis are apparently unaffected by the trance-like events. No correlation or determination has been offered that explains why some Psis are, thus far, immune to the symptoms.
Regardless, Psi hallucinations are taking their toll on ore production.
"First the mines themselves collapse. Then the Psis won't go back into the mines. And now the Psis who do go back in decide to lose their minds," complained one InfinitiCorp duty officer. "It can't go on. After a while, trade is going to suffer."
The Aganju mines began to collapse when the Ancient Appian Gate was opened in Lagarto. There is no explanation for the cave-ins. Since the Cygni Wars, the mines have been operated by the Terran conglomerate InfinitiCorp. Prior to that, they were aligned with the Progen Republic. Ore from the Cygni mines supplies weapons manufacturing all over the galaxy.
