Alright,
I am still completely fleshing out my faction visually I only have one sprite completely finished and my faction doesn't even have a page (yet) but here is the back story and the faction relationships. I will add a faction symbol when I finally get around to thinking one up...
Technically my mod will have two factions
the Ashkurr Commonwealth and the New People's Republic
The Ashkurr Commonwealth
History
Spoiler
Before the collapse of the gates, the Ashkurr system was a burdgeoning production system for the company Astral Defense Industries.
The system was mineral rich and great for production facilities, but the atmospheres were too hostile for food production or heavy civilian infrastructure. As such, most supplies were shipped into the system.
After the gates fell the system degenerated into chaos at the lack of supplies. A government formed and nationalized all the production capabilities to focus on designing and producing civilian and hydroponic craft.
After some time the food supply leveled out and the government released control of production transitioning the system into a more decentralized system. NOt all within the system were appreciative of the change and a splinter group formed called the New People's Republic which sought to maintain the communist style government they had before.
The Ashkurr system was isolated from the rest of the sector for some time so the only opposition the Commonwealth had was the NPR.
The Commonwealth became very isolationist and defensive. When the system was finally reopened, few if any outside trade fleets were allowed past the fringe jump point station.
The NPR on the other hand degenerated quickly into a form of piracy as the planets they inhabited had terrible infrastructure compared to the rest of the system. The populace would not have accepted the actions under normal circumstances but desperation makes animals out of the most civilized people.
As justification, The NPR raid fleets explained they were liberating supplies from the rich to help the people. In the beginning it was as simple as that. Though time and power of the leaders caused a subtle shift from supplying the people to bettering the lives of it's leaders.
The NPR found it easy to maintain control on the desperate populace by throwing them breadcrumbs from their raids while highly propagandizing them against the Commonwealth and eventually against the other factions in the sector after the system reopened.
The reopeneing of the system provided for targets for the NPR, though the cowardly NPR raid fleets tend to avoid battles they can not win.
Base Factions (and inter-faction)
Spoiler
Inter-System
Commonwealth - New People's Republic
Tenuous, skirmishes between military craft, no open war (see history above)
Hegemony
Commonwealth
The history of the Hegemony is relatively similar to that of the Commonwealth. As such, there is a certain kinship between the governments and relations are supportive to amicable.
NPR
Another fascist pig state. While the NPR will not openly attach Commonwealth ships (outside of pirating), they have no qualms raiding Hegemony ships and planets when they get the chance.
Tri-Tachyon
Commonwealth
The elitist corporate structure of the TTC makes communications between the two tenuous at best. There is no open warfare as the Commonwealth tends to take a hands-off approach and they have too low of technology to be interesting to the TTC technology raiders.
NPR
TTC epitomizes what the NPR finds wrong with pre-collapse civilizations. Communism got them out of disaster, to resort to anything else will lead down the path of destruction. The NPR does not have great technology but galactic guerrilla warfare makes the NPR a thorn (albeit a minor one) in the side of the TTC.
Sindrian Diktat
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth refuses to take open military actions against the SD, it abhors the way it treats its civilians, as such, trade is minor (if any) as is communication.
NPR
While the NPR pirates most of its supplies, whatever is can't steal they acquire in dealing with the SD. They have good relations and assist each other openly.
Cult of Lud
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth has mediocre to mid-high technology levels and they do not see technology as the illness that the CoL sees. Thus, the CoL has taken it upon themselves to declare the Commonwealth among the heretics worthy of only death.
NPR
The NPR is always trying to get better technology to increase their ability to pirate and possibly expand. because of that, they do not get along with the CoL either.
Independents
Commonwealth
Civilians and free peoples have nothing to fear from the Commonwealth
NPR
Civilians and free peoples have the food and supplies we need, besides everything belongs to the people.
Pirates
Commonwealth
A danger to it's citizens not to mention that they steal, The Commonwealth actively hunts down pirates.
NPR
Pirates steal from everyone indiscriminately, including the people. As such, the NPR can not allow the pirates to operate. The NPR does not view themselves as pirates, instead, they liberate supplies for the people.
Other Minor Factions
Commonwealth
Neutral and open to trade with those who act in a relatively civil manner.
NPR
If they have supplies they need, they take them.
Mod Factions (let me know if you take issue with my depiction or would suggest any changes here)
Spoiler
The Mayorate
Commonwealth
While the goals of the Mayorate touch the pragmatic sides of those in the Commonwealth, the means in which they try to achieve their goals (oppression, subjugation and other such semantic words) goes against the principles on which the Commonwealth was founded. So a defensive military front is maintained (at the minimum).
NPR
Subjugation of the People is unacceptable, Mayorate ships may not be easy targets for the lower tech ships of the NPR but they are prioritized over others.
Scy Nation
Commonwealth
As the Commonwealth takes on a defensive role and tends to keep their fleets protected (at the expense of strong offensive strength) has prevented most contact (good or bad) between the two.
NPR
The NPR would probably come off as a destabilizing force to the Scy so hostilities are unavoidable, besides, the Scy have tech that the People could use.
Interstellar Imperium
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth does not appreciate they way in which the Imperium governs its citizens, they have dealt with worse. Trade is open but relations are wary.
NPR
Well entrenched highly defended worlds are not easy targets. As such, the NPR avoids the Imperium.
Shadowyards HI
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth has an open and amicable stance toward SHI. They admire their technology and have made attempts to establish relations. The friendly relations with the Hegemony cause some strain in this relationship.
NPR
Will take what they can for the People.
Valkyrians
Commonwealth
The Valkyrians obsession with technology and militaristic and generally hostile attitude makes relations difficult. While the Commonwealth rarely makes the first move, open warfare is not impossible.
NPR
Valkyrian ships tend to be well defended and not good targets, so while hostile, they tend to be avoided.
Citadel
Commonwealth
Having to maintain its own military until recent contact, The Commonwealth has not had much need for mercenaries, though as an independent quasi-governmental force, The Commonwealth respects the Citadel's protection of civilians and independents. Relations could be/are good.
NPR
As the NPR preys upon those who have supplies and are easy targets (e.g. Independents) they don't look very good in the eyes of Citadel.
Blackrock
Commonwealth
They mentality of the BRDY causes relations with the Commonwealth to be cold to non-existent. All is quiet on the ... galactic front here.
NPR
BRDY ships do not make easy targets, as such their space is avoided by most of the NPR raiders
Exigency
Commonwealth
The militarism and violence of the Exigency makes any relations difficult. Compound that with their affinity with TTC, the Commonwealth actively prevents Exigency ships from entering their space.
NPR
As with most technologically advanced factions, they are best to be avoided. Unless the People are desperate.
Ahriman
Commonwealth
No better than most pirates, Ahriman ships are hunted down if they get too close to Commonwealth trade lanes.
NPR
The NPR does not get along well with pirate factions that rob from the people. Do as I say, not as I do.
Batavia Shipyards
Commonwealth
Batavians seem to be civil individuals and are welcomed into Commonwealth space for trade
NPR
Batavian ships might have supplies the People need...
UAF
Commonwealth
They are openly hostile to all other factions, The Commonwealth would be no exception.
NPR
Same as above
Junk Pirates
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth does not abide pirates near their trade lanes.
NPR
The NPR does not like pirates that take from the People, the Junk Pirates are no exception
Nomads
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth remains relatively neutral in the sector so relations between them and the Nomads are quiet and mercifully non-violent.
NPR
If they have supplies the People need, the NPR will take them.
I-Fed
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth has been in negotiations with the I-Fed for a peace accord. The Commonwealth do not like expansionism but do abide by relatively "good actors" in the sector.
NPR
Again, if they can, they will take their supplies.
The Lotus Conglomerate
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth was in open hostilities with the Lotus over a trade lane dispute but nothing has been heard from them in some time.
NPR
The NPR has few friends, the Lotus is one of those. Evenif they are corporatist, they are not above assisting the People.
ASP
Commonwealth
Neutral, though the Commonwealth does not need use of its services due to it's history of self reliance.
NPR
The ASP ships carry cargo that could be helpful to the People.
The Gedune
Commonwealth
The Gedune degeneration was largely unknown to the Commonwealth as they only recently made contact. The Commonwealth has only seen what the Gedune is like in the present and as such prevents them from harrassing their ships without prejudice.
NPR
The Gedune are strange and their ships are too fast for the NPR to make an effort to steal from them. NPR make an attempt to avoid them.
Bushi
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth believes in the preservation of human civilization; the Bushi obviously don't. The Commonwealth actively fights them.
NPR
The Bushi also aim to destroy the People so any enemy of the People is an enemy of the NPR.
Kadur Theocracy
Commonwealth
The commonwealth staunchly disapproves of the Theocratic regime and refuses to deal with it until it takes steps to give more civil liberties to its people. SANCTIONS! The defense focus of the Commonwealth and the long range focus of the KT tend to thwart open hostilities, so, the factions instead keep a safe angry distance.
NPR
Religion is a force to oppress the people and as such has no place in the galaxy. (The NPR does not oppress anyone >.>). Besides the sale of religious trinkets can help bring wealth to the people.
Neutrino Corp
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth sees very little difference in the conduct or attitude between the Neutrino and the TTC. As such, they are treated relatively the same.
NPR
Neutrino freighters can have some great boot- I mean supplies for the people as long as the big ships are not around.
Neraterus
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth encountered the Neraterus early in the After Isolation Period (AIP), though their infulence was not known until much later. They were first discovered when a freighter captain was killed trying to infect a water supply system of a mining colony. The parasite burst from the body trying to infect the security personnel. ONe of the secruity perssonell managed to disable the monstrocity, while leaving it intact enough to allow observation. The citizenry was distraught (and rightfully so) about the methods and assumed motivations of the parasitic creatures. Parasite scanning machines were developed and installed on most ships and stations after severeal incidents of entire trade fleets and mining stations going dark and ending up in Neraterus control.
Many attempts were made on captured hosts to remove the parasit safely. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to remove it without killing the host as well. The Commonwealth was forced to resort to terminating the infected persons to limit the spread regardkless of degree of parasite infection. You can never be too careful.
That is not to say that several trade fleets do not go dark per cycle for "unknown reasons" while on the longer trade routes. Neraterus vessels are obviously fired upon on sight.
NPR
The NPR only found out why some of their raiding parties went missing when their spies in the Commonwealth gave reports of terminated NPR fleets having a parasites found within the recovered bodies. The NPR managed to steal several scanners and use them on the more important ships and stations to try to combat the infestation. Though they are much lest protected than their Commonwealth counterparts.
Other Factions (There are so many)
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth tends to keep defensive borders, avoids open conflict unless the faction is a direct threat to its people. It will refuse to deal with factions on moral an ethical grounds (at least openly). Protectorate factions are usually valued by the Commonwealth.
NPR
The NPR takes supplies from anyone they can "to give back to the People" So most factions are subject to "nationalization" of their supplies and other cargo unless they support the People's Movement.