This Just In...

"...eyewitness reports and experts call it a testament to Federation and Starfleet personnel, and to all of the civilian ships that took part. It is the largest movement of people in the shortest time, in nearly any race's recorded history."

VISUAL: a view of space, in a planetary system. Thousands of ships are visible, in vastly complex traffic patterns. Streams of shuttles and ships move from the surface of a blue-green world to orbit.

"The evacuation of Regulus - or as some are calling it, the Regulan Miracle - began as soon as word reached this heavily populated Federation member world that the destructive, still-enigmatic phenomena called 'The Genesis Wave' would indeed reach this system. They had 2 weeks until their homes, their world, their system - everything they knew - would be destroyed."

VISUAL: video of the Genesis Wave sweeping over systems, erasing the previous worlds and creating new ones. Small type at the bottom of the image: Artist's Interpretation

"In an act of public service not uncommon to their culture, Caitians all across the Federation dropped everything and raced to their homeworld to help in any way they could. Nearby systems whose safety was assured by Federation scientists sent every ship they could muster to bring the inhabitants of Regulus out of the danger zone. From tramp freighters to enormous luxury liners, Starfleet vessels to ore carriers, everyone who could get to Regulus in time, did so."

VISUAL: A large spaceport, with ships and shuttles grounded everywhere they can land; landing pads, parks, fields, rooftops, major roads. An enormous number of Caitians are in lines and groups, boarding or waiting to board. The sky is full of ascending and descending craft.

"99% of the population of the system - over a billion sapients - were lifted from Caitia and the other inhabited locations. The Regulan government reports that though there were some regrettable losses, they are pleased to report such enormous success. Elements of the Caitian Home Guard stayed behind, seeking out stragglers and those unable or unwilling to leave."

VISUAL: Caitians in military/rescue equipment move through a thoroughly trashed apartment complex. One of them carries out a dirty, confused-looking young Caitian, and they are promptly beamed away. Another group of searchers escorts a pair of elderly humans to a waiting shuttle.

"The Regulan government says, 'We will never forget their sacrifice'. Plans for a memorial are already being made, for when the population of Regulus returns home. At the moment, however, the nearby systems are struggling under the weight of a billion refugees. Housing, food, water and sanitation are all strained resources, as a Starfleet stretched thin by the losses to the Genesis Wave makes heroic efforts to continue to save lives."

VISUAL: Massive prefab camps sprawl away from spaceports and cities, as disheveled Caitians line up to receive food and water rations from the back of Starfleet shuttles.

"Even though the situation in the refugee facilities is stable, what has happened to the homeworld of the Caitians? For that, we go to a special report from our Science and Federation Today desks..."

___

H'suur snorts in anticipatory disgust, and turns off the newsfeed in his quarters. Confusion, cautious optimism and suspicious worry war for expression on his face, his ears, in the irregular lash of his tail as he re-reads the letter in his hand. The letter that arrived hidden away in a pack of Terran cigars that he had ordered some months ago, delivered to the ship in its last supply stop.

Plastipaper, neatly folded, Caitian script in a flowing hand:

Dearest Son,

I know we haven't talked since you struck out on your own, and I regret that. You must know that I, and the whole family, are very proud of you. I know this will surprise you, but it is true. I hope to tell you in person some day. It is important, however, that you know some details concerning the situation in Regulus...