BBC Special Report: Industrial Breakthrough on Sprague; Refugee Crisis Addressed

[jammi]

PLANET SPRAGUE, OMEGA 3 - It is undeniable that in recent years wars of aggression waged against Bretonia - initially by Kusari and later Gallia - have sparked a humanitarian crisis unprecedented in human history. This crisis reached a boiling point upon the breach of Leeds and the landing of invasion forces on its namesake planet. Pre-war censuses recorded an immense 17 billion Bretonian citizens as residing on the planet, with current estimates stating less than a quarter of that number still remain. Refugee camps on New London are thought to have bourne the brunt of this mass exodus, with an estimated 5 billion war weary evacuees straining the capitol's ability to cope to breaking point. While other Houses and groups - notably Liberty - have graciously thrown open their doors to those fleeing from war, the pressing concern of what to do about the Refugee Crisis domestically has continued mount, becoming one of the key point of concern for the current War Cabinet.

For many, the solution was to develop new and existing colonies to spread the burden more evenly and strive to replace some of the capacity lost when Planet Leeds was blockaded. The solution heralded as a 'silver bullet' in 819 was the colonisation of Sprague and the development of new industrial infrastructure in the Omegas. In order to bring this about, an act of Parliament placed the planet's development under the auspices of Bowex, BMM and an advisory board known as the SAGI (Sprague Administrative and Growth Initiative). This colonisation was notoriously

Planet Leeds has been the source of the largest exodus and humanitarian crisis in recorded history due to its invasion in 820.

controversial, and was met with immediate protest by ecological groups such as the Green Front, as well as prominent Cambridge xenoarchaeologists who feared for the preservation of ancient alien ruins that are scattered across the planet's surface. It is believed that these concerns were the primary motivation for a sudden initiation of activity in the Omega 3 system by the terrorist movement known as the Gaians. The developing colony has also drawn ire from sources within Rheinland, who claim that the settlement of the Omega border worlds is in direct violation of the Boorman Treaty.

Following up on previous government and BMM pledges to massively ramp up infrastructure and job creation on Sprague, Bowex issued an announcement pertaining to the Bretonian citizens still stranded in Leeds. During peacetime, Planet Leeds was entirely dependent on imports of food from Planet Cambridge to sustain its huge population. The vast logistics of this effort were easily handled by domestic interests prior to the war, but since the Gallic conquest, matters have been significantly complicated. While the planetary population now stands at less than a quarter of its pre-war total, the remaining citizens (as well as active combatants) still require an immense number of imports to sustain them. While military intelligence sources indicate that the Gallic invaders are importing food for their own soldiers and colonists through the Taus, allegations are circulating of an anti-Bretonian genocide brought about by targeted starvation. In light of these horrifying and shocking reports, Bowex has stated that alongside the treasury they would be massively ramping up funding for extraction and relocation efforts. Consequently, the bounty awarded to any captain that can successfully rescue stranded citizens and drop them off on Sprague has been massively boosted, to double its initial rate. They have also pledged to dedicate more resources to tackling the ongoing crisis, including but not limited to utilising Canary Wharf station as a temporary housing platform for refugees en-route to Sprague.

Officers from BMM and the War Office made also joint announcements pertaining to Sprague and the ongoing Refugee Crisis earlier today. Speaking from Thames Station in New London, Ruth Price of BMM officially confirmed that large Cobalt reserves had been discovered on Sprague and were now being commercially exploited. This announcement has come amid years of concern over the colony's economic viability, and ability to provide employment for the billions of residents who will ultimately be settled there. Numerous studies and inquests pertaining to the planet had ominously foretold that the venture could prove to be 'economically ruinous' to Bretonia's treasury, as investment has largely been subsidised by the Crown itself. These findings have thus far been decried by the War Cabinet as, 'unfounded' and 'ignorant of the facts'. Following up on BMM's announcements, Department of Work and Industry Minister Sir Stanley Massey was quick to issue assurances, "that every possible step is being taken to foster the creation of jobs for the working men and woman of Sprague and render the colony both prosperous and profitable."

He went on to clarify that BMM was already taking great strides in the development of infrastructure and factories that would provide gainful employment to millions - specifically citing the recent completion of two arms and ship factories believed to provide employment to over 30,000 residents each. Ms Price then went on to say that, "the commercial mining of Cobalt will go a long way as to supporting Bretonia's wider war effort, as well as providing hundreds of thousands directly, without even factoring in the additional roles to be created in refining, distribution and haulage." The announcement has already been met with unease by members of DHC and the IMG, both of which being key exporters of the strategically vital mineral in the neighbouring Omega 7 system.

Many of the Cobalt mining complexes can be found in the foothills of the Glywysing Mountain Range.

---

HAVE YOUR SAY: Are you a Bretonian citizen living on Planet Sprague? Have you been affected by the Bretonian Refugee Crisis, anywhere else in Sirius? Please let us know in the comments below.

Alternately, to speak to a BBC journalist regarding a potential story, please contact us directly at haveyoursay@bbc.co.br

---

News article library, feedback and content requests.