Quote:I meant strength of independence, as in: Ensuring the security of their own stations/planets and being able to defend themselves on voyages, so they don't get bullied into submission.
This is where diplomacy plays its part. There's also such a thing as economic/supply strength. While they may or may not have the Billions in centrally controlled revenue like a House corporation might have, the Zoners can much more easily acquire goods on the fringes that pirates like Corsairs cannot come by easily, like food. You don't go biting the hand that feeds you, or you starve. That's part of the business/detente relationship you can make with such power.
Also...you don't necessarily NEED a fleet of battleships in order to defend yourselves on a voyage. You could more easily have a FLEET of gunboats, or a fleet of Cruisers. A case could be made to have a Carrier-like ship that is able to deploy snubs for defense...but that's a different role of ship.
