 In the story, it is stated that "the integrity of the Ribboneers was not to be questioned" -- what potentially negative implications might this have?
In repose, Taphetta the Ribboneer resembled a fancy giant bow on a package. Actually, the four of us here, though it's accidental, very nearly represent the biological spectrum of human development. Man was the most numerous though not always the most advanced—Ribboneers had a civilization as high as anything in the known section of the Milky Way, and there were others—and humans were more than a little feared. The Ribboneer glanced out the visionport, where another ship hung motionless in space beside them. We've copied the Ribboneer's standard nature, simplifying it a little and adding a per cent here and there for the crew pilot and scientist's share of the profits from any discoveries we may make." Besides, the integrity of Ribboneers was not to be questioned.
 The Ribboneers could wield their reputation in order to lie, manipulate, and accumulate more power
 The Ribboneers could use evidence from the adjacent mating principle to eradicate 'lower-level' species  The Ribboneers could be held responsible for solving problems that even they are not qualified to resolve  The Ribboneers could use evidence from the adjacent mating principle to further advance their own species  The Ribboneers could wield their reputation in order to lie, manipulate, and accumulate more power