1. A method for execution by a set of distributed storage (DS) units, the method comprises: transmitting, by each DS unit of the set of DS units, a set of requests to other DS units of the set of DS units, wherein a request of the set of requests includes requesting a response regarding a respective data element of a set of data elements from a respective one of the other DS units, and wherein the set of requests are generated in accordance with a current distributed task/data responsibility allocation period, wherein, collectively, the set of DS units contains a plurality of sets of data elements; receiving, by the each DS unit, a respective request from each of the other DS units such that the each DS unit receives a set of respective requests from the other DS units; when each of the set of respective requests is in accordance with the current distributed task/data responsibility allocation period: generating, by the each DS unit, a response to each respective request of the set of respective requests to produce a set of responses; and sending, by the each DS unit, the set of responses to the other DS units; receiving, by the each DS unit, a respective response from each of the sets of responses from the other DS units such that the each DS unit receives a set of respective responses from the other DS units; and when the set of respective responses is in accordance with the current distributed task/data responsibility allocation period, processing, by the each DS unit, the set of respective responses in accordance with the current distributed task/data responsibility allocation period to produce one of a set of results such that the set of DS units produces the set of results regarding the plurality of sets of data elements.