Mylain Advocate, front page, 29.9.YC121
LAST ISLAND LOST
Last known photo of the south coast of Last Island, taken 27.9.YC121 during a normal rainstorm
Reports indicate that a major hurricane struck the island archipelago of Atchafalaya, home to the city of Moisant, on Octanneve V. The area’s communications grid–and, apparently, those all over the planet–failed in the later hours of 28 September, leaving much unknown. However, volunteers who have made it to the surface have detailed extensive destruction in Moisant that was clearly caused by a major weather event.
Satellite data and images suggest that at least six independent tropical cyclones formed over a less than 24-hour period, passing over all of Octanneve V’s continents and wreaking havoc among communities large and small. Relatively cold even for a temperate planet, Octanneve V was in its “winter” period, and had been since YC120, making these storms especially unexpected. The rest of the planet seems to have fared somewhat better; the oceans did not warm nearly as quickly as they did around the Equator-straddling Atchafalaya archipelago, and thus the storms did not intensify as quickly before reaching land.
Rescue and relief efforts for Moisant specifically are being led by Viavant and Corovid Industries, both capsuleer-led corporations. Representatives of these corporations have been tight-lipped regarding the safety of the people of Moisant, and especially leadership of the city, citing “security concerns.” However, they have placed blame for the weather events squarely at the feet of one @Drake_Arson, a capsuleer known for his following of Sansha’s Nation objectives as well as for alleged acts of mass murder and human indecency. Arson has not yet confirmed or denied these allegations.
A spokesperson for Viavant claimed that Arson had been seen in the fluid router channel “The Summit” bragging to a fellow Nation loyalist that he had almost finished “seeding” the inhabited worlds of Solitude. The spokesperson alleged that this “seeding” caused the sudden atmospheric warming and other effects that allowed these storms to form, and urged other worlds in the region to be vigilant and prepare for similar disasters. There is no word yet on whether any other planets in Solitude have been thus affected.
Viavant’s spokesperson declined to offer specific numbers of the dead and missing so far, but stated that a significant number of lives had been lost already. Additionally, the spokesperson stressed that “Last Island is totally destroyed.”
Last Island was a small barrier island due south of Atchafalaya’s main island and the only one of the River Saighead’s inhabited delta islands to border the ocean itself. It was a popular tourist destination for locals of Moisant as well as for visitors from Mylain, and featured a number of activities, including restaurants, natural parks, and a well-outfitted marina.
Most of the buildings on the island had been raised several feet above ground level in order to better manage flooding, but the intensity of the storm ignored these standard defenses. According to the spokesperson, “not a single structure on Last Island was left standing,” and even the island’s natural vegetation has been washed away. Most of the island is now underwater.
As for the city of Moisant itself, the residential areas have sustained heavy flooding and wind damage, and the downtown area, home to most of the city’s skyscrapers, were battered by wind and flying debris. Some of the skyscrapers are suspected to be structurally unsound. Moisant’s skyport, spaceport, and transportation hub are unusable. The other islands have yet to be accounted for, as the spans connecting them to the main island buckled under the force of the storm.
Viavant and Corovid Industries have stated that they are not yet able to accept donations of supplies, but will likely call for such donations in the coming days. Their spokesperson wished to convey that “hurricane evacuation strategies worked appropriately” but also to prepare for stunning losses among the close-knit community.
Residents of Mylain and Caille with family in or near Moisant are encouraged to collect documentation and genetic samples to assist in finding and identifying their loved ones.
((Credits))
Image by Michelle Maria from Pixabay, Cozumel
Associated reading: Last Island, Louisiana