If anyone buys into the rogue BlackLance or Andorra (ACES fanfiction), Id go with that. Otherwise, the Kilrathi. Sure they got beaten down, but theyre pulling it back together, there are probably dozens of warlords out there to pull together into a good Empire (have to kill them all eventually though) and, Im sorry, but I just cant help but love the newer ships. Or the older ones, for that matter.