What The Founder Said

Three hundred human slaves have killed every Gorzunian in a spaceship and now decide what to do next:

"Theoretically it was a democratic assembly called to decide our next move. In practice Manuel Argos gave his orders."

-"The Star Plunderer," p. 354.

Argos is in a state transitional between leader and ruler.

He argues:

an empire is necessary for defence;

collecting tribute can make it pay; 

this is one of those historical periods"'...when the enforced peace of Caesarism is the only solution.'" (p. 356);

Caesarism is better than the current devastation;

an empire in fact should be an empire in name;

people fight for symbols;

a hereditary aristocracy will be a valuable archaism;

a dynasty can last with good breeding stock, a hard school and gerontology;

as with the Romans, all worthy individuals of any race can become citizens.

When they return to Earth:

"...the thin winter wind [is] like a cleansing bath around [Reeves]..." (p. 361)

The wind is always with us.