governments, are a force that the UIPS can
not ignore."

Narval motioned to Drummer.

"The Proclamation."

Bringing his hand close, he inspected its palm and
fingers.

Selecting a fingernail, he commenced nibbling at
it, giving the task his full attention.

Drummer rose to his feet, drew a scrolled
document from the sleeve of his robe and unrolled
it. Holding the scroll low so that his listeners
could see his face, he read from the scroll without
hesitation or inflection.

"The President of Planet Pluto sends greetings to
the President of the United Inner Planetary System
and to all citizens of the Inner Region.

"I, President Reen Narval, hereby declare and
proclaim that Planet Pluto, as an independent and
properly constituted member of the Independent
Nations of the Outer Region (INOR), has the legal
and inalienable right to use and to defend INOR
territory under my jurisdiction consistent with
time-honored custom and interplanetary law.

"The Government of Planet Pluto, now and
henceforth, assumes for itself as lawful all
dominant rights of independent nations to possess
and control all territory, properties, materials,
supplies and all other resources on and beneath
the surface of Planet Pluto. Such rights extend
off-planet to national boundaries established in
conformance with treaties in effect for delineating
planetary and satellite jurisdictions in near and
contiguous space.

"Through this Proclamation, we, the Government
of Planet Pluto, exercise our rights and impose
our legitimate authority.

"On the other hand, we are realists. It is not
possible for us, at this stage of Plutonian
national and industrial development, to assume the
operation and servicing of vital life and community
support systems, nor has the Planet Pluto Government
the technical skills and facilities at this time to
produce and deliver infrastructure and commodities
essential for a self-sustaining economy."

Drummer raised his eyes and quickly scanned the
INOR ambassadors seated along each side of the
conference table. His voice raised slightly for
emphasis.

"We, therefore," he intoned, "conditionally grant
to the Government of the United Inner Planetary
System license to install, operate, and service all
life and general infrastructure support systems
in Coldfield, and in all posts, camps and stations
on the surface of Planet Pluto, its satellite Charon
and throughout its contiguous space.

"We are, further