As many are likely already aware, a great tragedy befell the FKM's House of Dust shortly after their historic transition to a Republican government.
Despite great controversy, the House of Dust finalized its transition to Republicanism in 4630u with an overwhelming 99% majority vote. This was applauded as a spectacular success, thanks to the near-universal public support and overall lack of violence.
The peace of the Republican transition was broken when Hagiographic terrorists crashed an R&D station onto the surface of Bo. This station contained experimental forms of the House of Stone's COMMENCER nanites, which were released following the crash. The nanites immediately began to consume the surface of Bo. Analysis by experts from the House of Dust, FKM, and even Union all came to the same conclusion: the nanites would continue their RACR cycle until all available mass was consumed, and there was no way to stop them.
As of the most recent survey, the COMMENCER nanites have consumed approximately 2% of Bo's surface. This may not seem like a large number, especially after almost four centuries of activity, but the spreading nanites have already begun a cascading series of climate changes and tectonic instability. Earthquakes, volcanoes, and ecological collapse will render Bo uninhabitable long before it's fully consumed.
But the story doesn't end there.
The motto of the House of Dust is Espendiete pa Zorale: "We Hope for Dawn". Even in the face of the apocalyptic obliteration of their ancestral homeland, they did not despair. Instead the House of Dust banded together to launch what is potentially the largest evacuation effort in recorded history.
Bo was first settled in the Low Passacaglian Period. It has well over 3000 years of history and development, and is home to over 5 billion people. Growing overpopulation in the Concern was a major worry even before the tragedy on Bo, so local relocation is not an option for the majority of Bo's residents and infrastructure.
Instead the House of Dust has turned its focus to allied and sympathetic worlds in the distant Dawnline Shore. Until Blink 1 becomes available the only routes into and out of the Dawnline Shore are the infamously lawless Long Rim and the highly-contested passage to Gloria (also known as Mesa, Legionrest, and DS11). Even with modern technology these voyages will last many years and require a great deal of support and supplies. Launching even a limited colonial expedition is a significant logistical undertaking, much less a mass exodus.
Fortunately, the House of Dust does not stand alone. Allies and concerned citizens within the Baronies have already donated a massive amount of ships, supplies, and resources to the evacuation effort. Union's DOJ/HR launched a Universe-Building Mission to Bo shortly after the crisis began, and members of this Mission have been providing administrative and humanitarian assistance since their arrival. Several Albatross Maktebas have deployed operational detachments along the evacuation corridors, providing protection and assistance to the refugee ships.
Multiple corporations have also offered assistance or sympathy. SSC's products are not usually suited for heavy lift missions, but several of their advanced survey teams are active in the Dawnline Shore to identify potential settlement sites for the House of Dust refugees. Harrison Armory has released a statement condemning the tragedy, assuring that House of Dust refugees would be welcome in the Purview, and promising that they would be eligible for Citizenship through the usual paths.
IPS-N ( @ips-northstar-official ) remains the largest non-national supporter of Bo's evacuation. Millions of tons of naval assets have been provided to the House of Dust, from space suits to star charts, from Hydrogen-3 to heavy freighters. IPS-N affiliated stations and facilities in the Long Rim, such as those operated by Greenfield Dynamics, have already been contracted to provide support for House of Dust evacuation ships.
The additional supplies and traffic are expected to cause a minor economic boom in the Long Rim, but with wealth comes greed. Evacuation ships, packed with civilians and valuable resources, are tempting targets for the many criminal groups that plague the region. Trunk Security's ( @ips-n-trunk-security-official ) Dawnline Transit Division has already stepped up its anti-piracy efforts in anticipation of such attacks, and stands ready to protect the citizens of Bo on the long pilgrimage to their new home.
Northstar Galactic Command has also had a prominent role in the evacuation effort. The transportation and support of terrestrial forces (such as Baronic House Companies) is one of our standard mission packages, so NGC naval groups had little difficulty pivoting to transport civilian personnel and infrastructure. IPS-N's flag vessels such as the Greenland-class Battlecarrier and the Eiland-class Escort Carrier possess unmatched logistic and heavy lift capacity, making them ideal for these sorts of missions. GALCOMM groups also pull double-duty as escorts and deterrents: even the boldest pirates are rarely willing to attack a convoy under the protection of a fully armed battlegroup.
The evacuation of Bo is still in its early stages, and much remains in doubt. Despite this hardship and uncertainty, the House of Dust and its allies persevere.
We are privileged and honored to be among those helping lend the light of the Northstar to the people of Bo as they journey toward their long-awaited dawn.
