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Names<br />
Industry and services on <strong>An</strong>ga-Param and <strong>An</strong>la-Purum were in constant growth and flux. Local Councils<br />
approved what they deemed appropriate for their locality. They did consult with Regional Councils because they<br />
could overrule a Local Councils' decisions. The interplay between Regional and Territorial Council rulings was<br />
more complex and was definitely made even more complex by the power of the Words' Council.<br />
In spite of this multilayered oversight, the growth continued and the flux intensified. There was still<br />
room for the enterprising individual or group to find ways to use the various levels of regulation for their own<br />
purposes. One particularly favored method was to bide one's time with the actual set-up of a business until the<br />
proper people were in place on the Regional or Territorial Councils. The activity of covert politics was rampant.<br />
There were groups of people devoted to each level of the governmental structure who's employment was strictly<br />
the currying of influence 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 beholden to trade<br />
and service groups. Because of the closer tie between the Territorial and Worlds' Councils, the estimate was<br />
closer to ten percent.<br />
Trade and commerce regulations were overseen by boards appointed at each level of government and<br />
enforced by the appropriate level of Protective Force. In all the years since the formation of the current<br />
governmental structure, there had been only 98 instances of regulation by force, most infringements of law being<br />
settled by mediation. The Worlds' Council had yet to bring the Worlds' Protective Force into direct coercive<br />
action.<br />
Still, the best single word to describe the Worlds' economic activity was frenzy. <strong>An</strong>d, this term was<br />
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, connected to<br />
the large peninsula that had been the first outpost for exploration. Three more voyages had brought settlers to<br />
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 export of<br />
various plant and mineral substances. Delva and Morna had determined that any non-liquid form of <strong>An</strong>glana's<br />
substance was perfectly safe for use on other Worlds. Naturally, the amount of these exports was strictly<br />
controlled by <strong>An</strong>glana. <strong>An</strong>y attempt to export more than <strong>An</strong>glana wished was met by atmospheric plasma<br />
stunning. The planet was inhabited by a protective force stronger and more rational than the other Worlds had at<br />
their disposal.<br />
Needless to say, <strong>An</strong>glana also controlled any indigenous misuse of her planet's resources. If there were<br />
any settlers who had successfully fooled the rigorous selection process, they quickly were discovered, and, if their<br />
activity was egregious, banished <strong>from</strong> the planet.<br />
<strong>An</strong>glana also controlled importation of goods. She relied on Delva and Verluin and the other five who<br />
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 seventeen<br />
others had passed the testing. They were being considered as Territorial Council members but <strong>An</strong>glana had yet to<br />
agree to complete alignment with the Worlds' Council.<br />
What had once been simulated recreational use of the Worlds' Mesh had evolved into a wealth of news,<br />
information, and study sub-Meshes. There was still a recreational Mesh but it was no longer used as a method of<br />
mass control.<br />
There were also Local, Regional, and Territorial Meshes and a completely isolated Mesh for the Worlds'<br />
Protective Force.<br />
People could have their own private Meshes but access had to granted to the Territorial Councils'<br />
oversight. This particular point of law was the impetus for the formation of many groups of somewhat organized<br />
Independents and Dissatisfieds. It also spawned a definite increase in bootleg electro-plasma devices.<br />
This type of device was of no use to Haalii. She wasn't in contact with Chirzt and Laiy and wouldn't be<br />
until her own plans reached a successful level of implementation. Being on <strong>An</strong>glana's planet posed a severe<br />
challenge to her activities. However, she was blessed with an abundance of resourcefulness that nearly balanced