Prior to 2369, the Bajorans had established six colonies on this planet. By that year, the population on this planet was counted in the thousands. In 2369, Bajoran terrorist Tahna Los, aboard the runabout USS Yangtzee Kiang, rendezvoused with Lursa and B'Etor's Bird-of-Prey near the lower moon of Bajor VIII to receive a quantity of bilitrium explosive. The USS Ganges, monitoring the exchange from behind the second moon, attempted to intercept him, but Tahna threatened to detonate the bomb in low orbit and wipe out the colonies on the surface. The Ganges was forced to allow him to head towards the Bajoran wormhole. (DS9: "Past Prologue")