My assessment is that he wants to build rockets and do other cool futuristic stuff. He was willing to play whatever games he had to along the way to get there.

Then the powers that be stated to interfere with his goals. And while he was looking at the sky they transed his soon. Now he's pissed and wants to break them. So he can get revenge for what they did to his kid and get back to doing neat futuristic stuff.

It's a happy accident that he aligns with us for now. Well, maybe not. His goals require a certain wealth and stability of society... But I agree. He working for his own ends.