Ultima Thule

"Ultima Thule" by Mack Reynolds is a science fiction story that throws a young, ambitious man named Ronny Bronston headfirst into the wild world of interplanetary politics. Ronny dreams of working for the United Planets, but his journey takes an unexpected turn when he's tasked with tracking down the elusive Tommy Paine. Paine is a near-mythical figure suspected of sparking rebellions throughout the galaxy. As Ronny chases leads, he discovers a tangled web of bureaucracy and cultural clashes, forcing him to question everything he thought he knew about the galaxy and his place in it. Ronny's pursuit of Paine, alongside his partnership with Tog Lee Chang Chu, evolves into a mix of adventure and sharp political commentary as they deal with chaos after the political disruption on New Delos.