Just your usual corporation-run star system. Two inhabited planets, extensive mining on three others. Third-generation imported work force for the factories, slave labor by any other name,” she added. “Extensive pollution on both inhabited planets.” It wasn’t a pretty picture, but not one they hadn’t seen before. The corporate bosses didn’t live on any of these planets, so the conditions for the work force or the inhabitants were no concern of theirs. They left all the dirty tasks of actually running the place to their designated overseers. The overseers in turn extracted as much profit for themselves as the company. Depending in which jurisdiction you were in, or if you were an independent star system like Avalon, conditions for the population and workers ranged from abysmal to excellent. Systems that fell under the control of the Sirriens tended to be worse than many others. There wasn’t a lot Earth could do about it. They weren’t an interstellar police force, nor did they have the force or means to enforce any human right issues.
