Could the Masters & Invid be utilizing psionics offensivly?

[ShadowLogan]

What if (at least part of) the Masters and Invid success against Terran Humans was due (in part) to the use of a "mental attack" that disrupted the effectiveness of their opponents? There are two avenues to explore:
1. Psionic
2. Sound based Technology

Psionic
While psionics aren't given a great deal of emphasis in the show for the Masters, outside of the RPG (both 1E and 2E PB RPGs gave the Masters psionic powers) the show does suggest the Masters have telepathy, and even calls it out at least once (Ep45 by Louie "the bioroid is probably controlled by a mixture of telepathic suggestion and signals from artificial sensors", and toward the end of the TRM saga Musica can "sense" her sisters. The Invid by all indications are appear to have telepathy (and can even do possession).

As I said, both editions of the PB RPG include references to psionic abilities (varying by caste for the Masters and Invid ). Neither of them have anything as presented have the ability to "disrupt" a target (well aside from mental possession but that is highly targeted). And looking at the Gaurdans in 1E the females had the limited range "Empathic Transmission" and in 2E they seem to have abandoned psionics for something more abstract. Now the 1E Gaurdans ability shows that you could disrupt a target with "confusion" or "fear" using psionics, the main draw backs are in terms of range (60ft/18.2m) and that it can only target one person at a time (you also have things like saving throws).

Since psionic abilities get very little development in Robotech by Palladium (and not without good reason). Lets look at Palladium's bread and butter Rifts line for a possible basis for expanded psionic options:
1. Super Psionic Power of Empathic Transmission. This power exists in the Rifts line, just like the 1E RT line. It has the same drawbacks in terms of range and focus. This power requires a save vs psionic attack, something that the UEDF:ASC and UEEF might not have any experience in providing training for resisting or even experience in designing tech to protect against (intentionally).
2. Super Psionic Power of Radiate Horror Factor. This power invokes a HF saving throw. It has better range (100ft/30.5m), though the impact is not as great as ET (in terms of duration and scope). It also uses the HF system, which might be easier to "train" to resist.
3. Super Psionic Power of Psionic Invisibility. It's range isn't any better than RHF, but it requires a "passive" approach (no intent on attacking) which could be a downside. The power does use the save vs psionic mechanic, and the target does so at a penalty. It also impacts viewing the psychic via sensors (like video). It is also based on telepathic suggestion (per text). It has plenty going for it, but also some limitations that would require tweaking.
4. Super Psionic Power of Telemechanic Paralysis. This skips targeting the operator, and instead targets the machine. It's main drawback is the range of the power (40ft/12.2m).
5. Super Psionic Power of Elektrokinesis (sub ability specifically: Manipulate Electrical Devices). The main drawback is the range of 45ft/13.7m (increasing by 5ft/1.5m per level) and skips the operator to target the machine.

Now the Masters and/or the Invid might have ways to improve the range going off of examples in the Rifts line. In Rifts Psycape (WB12) establishes that if you open the "3rd Eye" you can get an improvement in range (x2), you also have ley line influence (not a phenomena present in the PB RT RPGs AFAIK, and not present in canon), implants that can improve range/performance (WB12, SB3), and technology that can can improve the range of telepathic communication (DB2 pg 128) to respectable ranges (10mile/16km) or other attacks (also in DB2 pg127-8; Mind Bolt to 2000ft/610m, equal to a 20th level character with the power, and Bio-Manipulation Paralysis at the same range using the tech vs 160ft/48.8m via power). There are also classes/races that utilize variants of existing powers.

In theory I think it is possible to show that you could have psionic device that broadcasts telepathic messages for increased range (similar to what is found in Rifts DB2), and per dialogue "telepathic suggestion" is something alluded to in TRM saga (Ep45) involved in Bioroid control. If the Masters are treated as having such a device, they might be able to use it to not only boost telepathic messaging, but other "telepathic"-like powers as mentioned above or a variation on them. Given Invid have better "natural" Telepathic ranges than the Masters in the RPG...

There is one more example I could bring up, aspects of the Cyber-Knight OCC's recton in SoT#4 and retained in the RUE update to the main book found in the Zen Combat. There are actually a few aspects of Zen Combat that could be of use here: Cloud Sensors, Cloud Targeting Computers & other weapon systems (the Invid might also have something aking to Automatic Dodge against tech, but in the form of PC tech). If that Zen Combat aspect is psionically used by the Masters/Invid against the Terrans it would appear to make them less effective even with superior machines. The advantage this has over the above powers is that they do not have a listed effective range. However it is not established if Zen Combat abilities are psionic in nature or something else (AFAIK/IIRC).

Tech
If psionic use is a bit to "mystical", could someone achieve the same effect using technology? While PB's 1E didn't have any sonic weapons (outside of Lancer's Rockers), PB's 2E would seem to offer a few options to base this on:
1. the RM Muses have Songs that can be used to influence the clones (which is from the show), so in theory they could have songs to influence opponents (in other words a Minmei Attack).
2. the ASC has the Short Range Acoustic Device in the ASC Golem Drone and Unicron PA, either of which could be used as a standin given the lack of such a system by the Masters (or Invid) in the 2E RPG. It should be noted that in Ep45 Louie states "...the relay switch we thought was a control device is actually some knd of sonic frequency receiver" (this later leads to Louie's statement about telepathic suggestion mentioned previously). So somehow the Masters can transmit sound to manipulate the bioroid pilot (which means they can manipulate humans)

Both of these options require working out how the Masters can "transmit" them to the ASC troopers. Do they highjack ASC radio communications? Do they broadcast in the open with the sonic penetrating mecha/body armor?

[Peacebringer]

The Palladium, Pscionics wasn't as flushed out as in other RPGs.

Louie was just speculating.

It's possible, but, not useful. Once upon a time, we played a war-game where one side had access to pscionics (The Mind-Lords); using the Fuzion-rules, it was difficult for the psychics to interfere, with the enemy. The best thing they would do was ascertain their plans (which helped a lot). Pscionics were best, when you can make eye-contact with your opponent. Over space and time, they don't work so well, unless they infiltrate.