C. J. Cherryh — American Writer born on September 01, 1942,

Carolyn Janice Cherry, better known by the pen name C. J. Cherryh, is an American writer of speculative fiction. She has written more than 60 books since the mid-1970s, including the Hugo Award winning novels Downbelow Station and Cyteen, both set in her Alliance-Union universe... (wikipedia)

Deal with the Devil if the Devil has a constituency - and don't complain about the heat.
Trade isn't about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sit in the warehouse until information moves them.
The warrior may fight for gold or for an immediate gain, or for something to take home for the winter to feed the family. The soldier is part of a more complex society. He's fighting for a group ethic of some sort.
A warrior is free to be a hero and pull off daring do and the soldier is irresponsible if he does it.
Culture is how biology responds and makes its living conditions better.