SOREL E48569A-1 Rob Dean (robdean@access.digex.net) Population:9.5 million A regressed colony originally planted by the Solomani during the Second Imperium. The original infrastructure was destroyed by nuclear war during the Long Night, and technology had recovered to TL1 by the time of recontact. The IISS maintains a semi-interdiction of the planet at the request of the local rulers. Imperial contact is per- mitted, but importation of technological items must be approved by both the local rulers and the IISS. Persistent rumors of psionics among the upper classes are "apparently" unfounded. While earth-like in general, Sorel is quite hot, and is only suitable for human habitation near the poles. The south polar region is currently uninhabited, although various organizations have negoti- ated for settlement rights occasionally with the ruling councils with no success. The original Solomani settlers of Sorel were of mixed races, but their descendants tend toward darker skin than most of the inhabitants of the nearby planets. In addition, the climate makes the wearing of unnecessary clothing quite uncomfortable, leaving even the lighter skinned inhabitants quite tanned. There is little semblance of a modesty taboo, although decorative clothing of light cotton or a local silk-like fiber is usually worn for social occasions. Since water is plentiful, most Sorellians in the settled regions bathe frequently, a custom viewed with suspicion by the nomadic herders of the interior. Sorellian food tends to be extremely spicy, and unsuspecting visitors are likely to have socially unacceptable reactions to Sorellian meals until their taste buds scar. All of Sorel is theoretically ruled by the High Council, but in practice the nomads only pay tribute when forced to, and the Council's rule is limited to the agricultural regions. The Council is a repre- sentative body of sorts, being made up of 47 regional representatives who are appointed for life by the people of their districts. In practice, the positions tend to be hereditary. The council appoints and dismisses administrators for the smaller subdivisions from a pool of career bureaucrats and soldiers. These administrators serve as judges, with a right of appeal to the district representative. The system is cumbersome, since in practice a consensus is required before the High Council will actually do anything, but in the absence of a major outside threat it works well enough.