Today marks the beginning of the extraordinary Interplanetary Emergency Summit, taking place at the houses of the Hevco Concordat on Mythhaler. The Contingency has arranged for hundreds of representatives, from Veltha, Rassmani, Ssearph, Ena, Mythhaler and the Contingency itself, to meet and discuss a long-term, unified response to the recent Glassvine plague and the damage it caused across the system.
Although all the planets have committed to cooperation, tension is expected in several areas. Of the five worlds, only Veltha, Mythhaler and Ssearph had completed widespread introductions of Glassvine into their agricultural industries; Rassmani in particular was heavily resistant to using the plant, and has made it clear that they will not bear an undue burden in righting what they view as Mythhaler’s mistake. In particular, they are reluctant to accept refugees from Veltha, which has seen almost its entire native food supply destroyed, or to ship significant portions of their own supplies offworld.
At the same time, questions will be raised about why the danger posed by Glassvine was missed, how it spread so quickly, and how to either stop it from spreading again, or remove it completely from the ecosystems of infected worlds. The planets are expected to announce a joint research initiative into Nemosis-5, an ancient and dormant pathogen that is present in almost everyone, and which is now known to reactivate in response to Glassvine spores. And significant scrutiny will be placed on the actions of those who responded to the crisis, the Contingency, in response to concerns regarding their effectiveness as an organisation, and even accusations their decisions were, on some occasions, illegal.
I am here to deliver the 16th weekly broadcast following the emergence of the Glassvine plague, corresponding reactivation of the Nemosis-5 pathogen, and the resulting crisis. Although news of cures and disinfection processes is starting to spread, I remind you all that food and water are in short supply. A reminder of low-water and low-waste meals will be broadcast again after this has concluded. The best we can do in the current circumstances is to follow regional advice, and maintain quarantine procedures, until such a time as announced it is safe to stop.
With aid from our Contingency, we have made great progress towards reconstruction. Infrastructure continues to be built to alleviate food shortages and repair facilities damaged by the Glassvine.
The following section of the broadcast is localised, varying depending on region.
Across Western Lyssil, we must remember to do as much as we can to collect water. Keep your tarpaulins well-maintained and supplied.
Across central Lyssil, we must stand as a community. Disruption and unrest will only lead to more loss of life. The quarantine and containment protocols introduced are for your safety. If we let each other down, it will hurt the progress we have made.
Across rural Hevco, we must do our best to share the food we have. Supplies are limited, and we cannot fight over scraps. These are tough times for all of us.
The rest of the broadcast continues
Crises like these require us all to pull together. As a people, as a planet, and as a system. Despite the damage that has been done to our infrastructure and landscape through Glassvine and technical mishaps, the situation is improving. The day will soon arrive when we are free from these measures. But for now, we must all pitch in.
–The Lyssil-Hevco Emergency Broadcast Network
The Contingency are undoubtably heroes who have saved a great many lives in the last few months. Nevertheless this makes it all the more important they are held accountable to their mistakes. As part of the Interplanetary Emergency Summit, there will be a hearing broadcast to the public, where the Contingency members responsible for some of the more controversial decisions in response to the Glassvine plague will be asked to justify their actions.
The Contingency members who will be asked to speak are Casimir Ruchana, Garpheron Vurlyth, Massira Thorssen and F4NG!.
REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE NASSIAN UNION REGARDING THE STATE OF THE SYSTEM FOLLOWING THE GLASSVINE CRISIS
VELTHA: Planetary food supplies completely devastated following widespread introduction of the Glassvine in an attempt to gain food security and independence. Subsequent famine has led to a large exodus from the planet to neighbouring Rassmani and Mythhaler. Large mineral and gem industries remain inactive due to damaged infrastructure and lack of workforce. Inability of Contingency to resolve the famine has led to large-scale public unrest.
RASSMANI: Left relatively unscathed due to lack of Glassvine adoption, with only minor crises that the Contingency was able to handily resolve. Food supplies remain uninfected but are already at capacity feeding its own population. Expressed significant opposition to accepting refugees from Veltha and assisting Mythhaler for what they see as ‘their own mistake in adopting the Glassvine’.
MYTHHALER: Large-scale Glassvine infection of flora and fauna alike, triggering a resurgence of Nemosis-5 in the Nassian population. Hetherovonian agriculture heavily affected and Lyssthrophivonian industry similarly crippled due to lack of food. Wide protests against the Federation for ‘rapid and unsanctioned introduction of the Glassvine’ which were suppressed by the Contingency.
ENA: No major issues to report aside from a communication outage. May be uninformed about the crisis.
SSEARPH: Atmospheric moss plantations remain intact but heavily colonised by Glassvine, rendering them unusable until cleared. Orbital colonies experienced minor infections but quarantine procedures ensured minimal damage.
MAY WE EMBRACE A HOPEFUL AND BRIGHT FUTURE
Coastal Lyssil is plagued. Coastal Lyssil is starving. Coastal Lyssil is hated. Our coasts are being taken extorted.
In the recent months, a vaccine to ward against Nemosis was introduced. One that can save lives, by denaturing the Glassvine spores to stop the dormant Nemosis pathogen from rising. A miracle. But only a miracle for some. It was offered freely to Hetherovon authorities, but when our coastal regions fell ill from the sickness they introduced, we were given an ultimatum. Feed Hevco with our food, administer our medicine to them, and then we get the vaccine.
This is not a children's game of “he said, she said”, these are our lives. Our people. And I do not want to choose between letting them starve or letting them succumb to plague.
Please, I implore anyone who can intervene. We need the vaccine.
–Yirili Lassrani
A photograph is displayed of a Nassigussan pinning a medal to a breezeblock wall. The caption reads “Ryanssar Herel (right) awarding a medal of honour to Garpheron Vurlyth (left).”
Prominent member of the Contingency Garpheron Vurlyth was awarded a medal of honour by the Hevco Concordat for his work in building a treaty providing food and vaccines to regions in southern Hetherovon, around the coastal regions heavily struck by Glassvine. His quick thinking and decisive attitude brought much-needed relief to Hevco citizens, ensuring they won't go hungry in these desperate times.
Unfortunately, this treaty has come under controversy; a Lyssil spokesperson claims they were “strong-armed” into the deal. When asked for comment, Ryanssar Herel (recently promoted as a chief diplomat for foreign affairs) stated “It truly is amazing what can be done with a little cooperation. It's all well and good looking out for yourselves, but sometimes, you should spare a little bit for your neighbour, too”.
⫘⫘⫘–⫘⫘⫘
Riverside villagers wish to extend their thanks to Azzogoten Sshengu for their lengthy and invested help in making the villages self-sufficient. Many years of self-sufficiency are now possible, despite the lack of arable land left across Mythhaler by the destablisation of the phreatic table and the destruction of crucial agricultural sites such as the grain field. Witnesses to the latter incident claim that the Contingency response was neither rapid nor targeted, and that the firewood initially supplied was too slow for the job to get done, necessitating another member of the Contingency stepping in with the supply of munitions, and much later, that is to say, recently, necessitating Azzogoten's much-needed, thoughtful, and precise handling.
In the aftermath of the devastating Glassvine plague, Yerss has emerged as a sanctuary for Nassians from across Hetherovon. The city subsists on several emergency farms which have been kept sterilised of the plague. An emergency government, advised by Contingency members, has formed, and are now overseeing the distribution of food and shelter to the populace.
Even as thousands migrate to the city from the ravaged countryside, these emergency measures show no sign of buckling under pressure.