Set in the same universe as Free Trader Mary's Dream, Kenneth Smithers would be one of the richest and most powerful people in the Terran Federation, if he didn't find it boring as hell. So, he told his House "My Sister's in charge, see ya!" and in the immortal words of somebody, "Took his money and ran". Too bad the faster he runs from responsibility, the faster it chases him...
FTMD/RR work continues apace. Hopefully there'll be movement soon.