Read more about history of factions
"Elan vital"
Controlled by noble houses of genetically enhanced superhumans, tracing history back to old Earth.
As the New Empire dropped its mighty boot on the last pockets of machine resistance in the Fourteenth Planetwars, so did its mask drop, revealing behind it the dynasty of ages past. Operatives in key positions diverted resources from the war effort to rebuild the laboratories, resuming in full the development of a better human race.
Confident in their newfound power, the nobles emerged from hiding determined to continue the path to human superiority, having no mercy for those standing in their way, machine or otherwise.
"Order, loyalty, dignity"
Absolute monarchy, with the immortal emperor at the head.
The Empire is the latest iteration of a millennia-old polity, seeking to create a galaxy of peace and stability built on the Emperor's iron hand.
Being dominant force in the galaxy, empire grew decadent and complacent and lost many of its holdings.
However the new emperor musters his forces together with a common goal: end the anarchy, restore the throne of the Emperor, and revive the glory days of yore. They march under the glorious banner of the double-headed eagle, to return humanity to its rightful mastery of the stars.
"Freedom and equality"
Liberal pluralism. Chaotic, disorganized, loose and free.
Federation is a weak alliance of liberal cultures, planets and small interstellar empires. It's origins can be traced to the times of Humanity Rising's fight for freedom against machines.
Now, this extremely tolerant and generally peaceful entity, gives rights and freedom back to lesser aliens and even conscious machines its ancestors once defeated.