The Prescots were just Welsh coal miners - until they found the technology needed to exploit the subsurface ores of entire planets. They are the richest people in the universe, having more money that most planetary governments and effectively unlimited resources, but the only thing that may be bigger than their wealth is their number of enemies. Ripple Creek Security provides them with highly trained bodyguards who need to be bought only once and then will be utterly loyal no matter the circumstance, but they may not be enough to stand against desperate enemies waiting for their opportunity to attack.