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9 ~ Names<br />
Industry and services on <strong>An</strong>ga-Param and <strong>An</strong>la-Purum were in constant growth and flux. Local<br />
Councils approved what they deemed appropriate for their locality. They did consult with<br />
Regional Councils because they could overrule a Local Councils' decisions. The interplay between<br />
Regional and Territorial Council rulings was more complex and definitely became quite a<br />
challenge when the power of the Worlds' Council came into the equation.<br />
In spite of this multilayered oversight, the growth continued and the flux intensified. There was<br />
still room for the enterprising individual or group to find ways to use the various levels of<br />
regulation for their own purposes. One particularly favored method was to bide one's time with<br />
the actual set-up of a business until the proper people were in place on the Regional or Territorial<br />
Councils. The activity of covert politics was rampant. There were groups of people devoted to<br />
each level of the governmental structure whose employment was strictly the currying of influence<br />
with individuals who had a larger sphere of influence. Some, who had the leisure and<br />
wherewithal, estimated that twenty percent of all Local and Regional Council members were<br />
beholden to trade and service groups. Because of the closer tie between the Territorial and<br />
Worlds' Councils, the estimate was closer to ten percent.<br />
Trade and commerce regulations were overseen by boards appointed at each level of<br />
government and enforced by the appropriate level of Protective Force. In all the years since the<br />
formation of the current governmental structure, there had been only 98 instances of regulation<br />
by force, most infringements of law being settled by mediation. The Worlds' Council had yet to<br />
bring the Worlds' Protective Force into direct coercive action.<br />
Still, the best single word to describe the Worlds' economic activity was frenzy. <strong>An</strong>d, this term<br />
was certainly most appropriate after settlement of <strong>An</strong>gla-Palli had begun.<br />
The first contingent of settlers had inhabited a portion of the land mass now called Surai,<br />
connected to the large peninsula that had been the first outpost for exploration. Three more<br />
voyages had brought settlers to three more land masses—Mero, Amar, and Ardros.<br />
There were now nearly 70,000 settlers on <strong>An</strong>gla-Palli and they were mostly involved in the<br />
export of various plant and mineral substances. Delva and Morna had determined that any nonliquid<br />
form of <strong>An</strong>glana's substance was perfectly safe for use on other Worlds. Naturally, the<br />
amount of these exports was strictly controlled by <strong>An</strong>glana. <strong>An</strong>y attempt to export more than<br />
<strong>An</strong>glana wished was met by atmospheric plasma stunning. The planet was inhabited by a<br />
protective force stronger and more rational than the other Worlds had at their disposal.<br />
Needless to say, <strong>An</strong>glana also controlled any indigenous misuse of her planet's resources. If<br />
there were any settlers who had successfully fooled the rigorous selection process, they quickly<br />
were discovered, and, if their activity was egregious, banished <strong>from</strong> the planet.<br />
<strong>An</strong>glana also controlled importation of goods. She had relied on Delva and Verluin and the<br />
other five who had incorporated with her to oversee the importation of service activities.<br />
Since the first group of five, who had now become another of Delva's Mediation Boards, only<br />
seventeen others had passed the testing. They were being considered as Territorial Council<br />
members but <strong>An</strong>glana had yet to agree to complete alignment with the Worlds' Council.<br />
~~~<br />
What had once been simulated recreational use of the Worlds' Mesh had evolved into a wealth of<br />
news, information, and study sub-Meshes. There was still a recreational Mesh but it was no<br />
longer used as a method of mass control.<br />
There were also Local, Regional, and Territorial Meshes and a completely isolated Mesh for the<br />
Worlds' Protective Force.<br />
People could have their own private Meshes but access had to be granted to the Territorial<br />
Councils' oversight. This particular point of law was the impetus for the formation of many groups<br />
of somewhat organized Independents and Dissatisfieds. It also spawned a definite increase in<br />
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