Some more worldbuilding:
Draconian Empire
The Draconian Empire was first contacted by the Terran Confederacy in the early 24th century, about a century after the development of the hyperdrive and the diaspora to the stars. For Draconia, this was shortly after the Hyborean Liberation, and they were rather surprised to see yet another human polity pop up so far from the ones they knew (Hyborea and Khitai, of course). After a few skirmishes, they decided that an immediate attempt at conquest would be too expensive, and settled in to play the waiting game. The Empire and Confederacy would become economic rivals in dealings with the many minor powers and independant worlds near their border.
Draconian ships tend to be well-armed, with a large battery of medium-grade grasers and a number of relatively light particle cannons for heavy guns. They typically supplement these with a small number of missile launchers propelling atomic warheads at FTL speeds. Compared to the Confederacy, their technology is robust but unsophisticated. Before - and during - the Occupation, Hyborean and Khitaian traders had dominated the market for consumer electronics and similar items among the Empire's civilians. With trade cut off following the Liberation, Terran merchants filled the void and even invested in Draconian corporations that wished to match their products.
The Draconian government is capped by a council of fifteen Great Houses, divided into three factions. The 'Chromatics' - Houses Crimson, Azure, and so on - dominate the military, with a suspicious and agressive view of outsiders. House Crimson held the council chair during the Hyborean conquest and occupation, for example. Following the Liberation, Crimson were displaced by Azure, who were in turn displaced by Emerald as the need to focus on the internal economy came to the fore.
The second faction is the 'Metallics' - Aurum, Argentum, &c. - who are traditionally responsible for the internal security of the Empire. It is they who deal with rebellions, spies, and such issues as labor unrest, as well as investigation and punishment of criminal actions. They control the (criminal) courts and train many of the Empire's judges and prosecutors.
The third faction, known as the 'Gemstones' are responsible for economic matters and serve as arbitrators between the other factions. The name supposedly comes from their wealth having purchased seats on the council, rather than having been raised to the nobility in battle. Corporate law, judges in civil court (which is entirely separate from criminal courts), business regulation, and the like are the Gemstones' purview.
The Gemstone houses initially supported the Hyborean conquest because of the intrusion of foreign traders into Imperial markets. Ejection from Hyborea - and from control of Hyborean manufacturers - caused economic chaos in the Empire. Ironically contact with the Terran Confederacy proved to be their salvation. While both the Metallics and Chromatics remained suspicious of the humans - just as nosy and interference-prone as their cousins - their larger economic base and willingness to invest in Draconian businesses, rather than just take over markets, propped up the faltering economy long enough for it to recover.
Relationships:
Terran Confederacy: Economic rivalry and interdependance. The two are closely tied now despite the occasional border skirmish that still happens. They compete for influence among many smaller polities and rarely directly confront one another.
Tharkad Imperium: Tharkad and Draconia were never really so much allies as having a mutual enemy. Conquering Hyborea was not so much a joint effort as it was Tharkad taking advantage of the smaller nation's distraction with Draconia. Today they share the same uneasy peace they had before, punctuated by low-level trade and occasional border raids and 'pirates'. Both consider themselves to have more important borders to defend and that the other cannot attempt conquest without weakening themselves against other enemies, such as the Nevinyrral Hegemony.
Hyborea: Cold War. At this time Hyborea refuses to re-open relations with Draconia, conducting all diplomacy at two removes - their embassy on Zingara talks to the Tharkad embassy there, who provides an informal channel to Draconia. No trade crosses the border, which is patrolled heavily by both sides.
Khitai: Limited contact. Khitai's princes prefer to keep Draconia at one remove diplomatically as well as physically, though their diplomats have been known to meet with their counterparts from the two nations' embassies to Tharkad and Zingara on occasion.
Zingara: Cool and strained, with very limited trade. The Zingaran nations remember the stories from the Hyborean refugees well. They did not know of Tharkad's involvement in the conquest, so have more open contact and trade there. Draconian agents of the Chromatic houses do indeed continue attempting to play on the Republic's internal rivalries and subvert one or more of their national governments.
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
Draconian Empire
The Draconian Empire was first contacted by the Terran Confederacy in the early 24th century, about a century after the development of the hyperdrive and the diaspora to the stars. For Draconia, this was shortly after the Hyborean Liberation, and they were rather surprised to see yet another human polity pop up so far from the ones they knew (Hyborea and Khitai, of course). After a few skirmishes, they decided that an immediate attempt at conquest would be too expensive, and settled in to play the waiting game. The Empire and Confederacy would become economic rivals in dealings with the many minor powers and independant worlds near their border.
Draconian ships tend to be well-armed, with a large battery of medium-grade grasers and a number of relatively light particle cannons for heavy guns. They typically supplement these with a small number of missile launchers propelling atomic warheads at FTL speeds. Compared to the Confederacy, their technology is robust but unsophisticated. Before - and during - the Occupation, Hyborean and Khitaian traders had dominated the market for consumer electronics and similar items among the Empire's civilians. With trade cut off following the Liberation, Terran merchants filled the void and even invested in Draconian corporations that wished to match their products.
The Draconian government is capped by a council of fifteen Great Houses, divided into three factions. The 'Chromatics' - Houses Crimson, Azure, and so on - dominate the military, with a suspicious and agressive view of outsiders. House Crimson held the council chair during the Hyborean conquest and occupation, for example. Following the Liberation, Crimson were displaced by Azure, who were in turn displaced by Emerald as the need to focus on the internal economy came to the fore.
The second faction is the 'Metallics' - Aurum, Argentum, &c. - who are traditionally responsible for the internal security of the Empire. It is they who deal with rebellions, spies, and such issues as labor unrest, as well as investigation and punishment of criminal actions. They control the (criminal) courts and train many of the Empire's judges and prosecutors.
The third faction, known as the 'Gemstones' are responsible for economic matters and serve as arbitrators between the other factions. The name supposedly comes from their wealth having purchased seats on the council, rather than having been raised to the nobility in battle. Corporate law, judges in civil court (which is entirely separate from criminal courts), business regulation, and the like are the Gemstones' purview.
The Gemstone houses initially supported the Hyborean conquest because of the intrusion of foreign traders into Imperial markets. Ejection from Hyborea - and from control of Hyborean manufacturers - caused economic chaos in the Empire. Ironically contact with the Terran Confederacy proved to be their salvation. While both the Metallics and Chromatics remained suspicious of the humans - just as nosy and interference-prone as their cousins - their larger economic base and willingness to invest in Draconian businesses, rather than just take over markets, propped up the faltering economy long enough for it to recover.
Relationships:
Terran Confederacy: Economic rivalry and interdependance. The two are closely tied now despite the occasional border skirmish that still happens. They compete for influence among many smaller polities and rarely directly confront one another.
Tharkad Imperium: Tharkad and Draconia were never really so much allies as having a mutual enemy. Conquering Hyborea was not so much a joint effort as it was Tharkad taking advantage of the smaller nation's distraction with Draconia. Today they share the same uneasy peace they had before, punctuated by low-level trade and occasional border raids and 'pirates'. Both consider themselves to have more important borders to defend and that the other cannot attempt conquest without weakening themselves against other enemies, such as the Nevinyrral Hegemony.
Hyborea: Cold War. At this time Hyborea refuses to re-open relations with Draconia, conducting all diplomacy at two removes - their embassy on Zingara talks to the Tharkad embassy there, who provides an informal channel to Draconia. No trade crosses the border, which is patrolled heavily by both sides.
Khitai: Limited contact. Khitai's princes prefer to keep Draconia at one remove diplomatically as well as physically, though their diplomats have been known to meet with their counterparts from the two nations' embassies to Tharkad and Zingara on occasion.
Zingara: Cool and strained, with very limited trade. The Zingaran nations remember the stories from the Hyborean refugees well. They did not know of Tharkad's involvement in the conquest, so have more open contact and trade there. Draconian agents of the Chromatic houses do indeed continue attempting to play on the Republic's internal rivalries and subvert one or more of their national governments.
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.