[quote=@WilsonTurner]
<Snipped quote by Kimiyosis>

I tried being diplomatic'n'stuff in one of the other space nation- when I was the Valkians. Kept warning and warning and warning, wouldn't open fire (Since Valkians are defensive, not aggressive), then Duck tried ramming two big ships into me and fled (after shooting two or three different races on another races' homeworld). The threat of making a diplomatic incident wasn't worth much.

Hey KeyGuy, can we have more politics in this one? I want to [i]maneuver[/i] allies (or for-the-moment-while-you're-useful allies) to kill my enemies, not actually have to fight the battles. Economic power has about as much significance as, oooh, who was it, the IDR in one of the first three originals? "WE HAVE THE MOST MONEY!" 
"AHRAUOAOF INVADE THEM!"
[/quote]

It isn't up to me how much politics is in this, I would encourage it, but I have no control over how jingoistic the players happen to be.