Vezzra, may I break your morale now? You are ranked as number 7 because of a specificity of the NethernoS. I will tell you in my next e-mail, although it isn't exactly a secret. Without this factor, I fear the NethernoS would fall a bit behind in scores. (In fact, my Empire is currently ranked 13th while I have a stronger economy, more research done, and a true military)
You should ask the People's Empire about my... generosity. *Smirks* After the first Crisis (AI directed Empire), I believe the NethernoS add between seven to nine Retribution warships (the very first in the Retribution series) I don't remember the exact number of weapons on each, but you get my meaning. When I left, the NethernoS were still not quite a military power, but they could destroy at least a few ships.
Loser, I was not talking about thirty ships, or fifty. *Knowing grin* It was rather a hundred and some, featuring... well some toy. These ships are a bit small though, but I would believe they are not too far behind in technology. (Well... Except if you are using some annoying weapon that is) I never liked the Zax armadas though, so I would rather try my luck against the Rorgs instead. And I don't quite like what you are saying either.
(But of course, it is merely theoretically, as I am a good one year away from these systems, and there are... what, two or three Empires in the way that might object to letting warships through)
We shall see about this conflict between the Zax and the Nyxians, it should prove to be interesting. Anyone willing to bet? (A hundred credits on the Nyxians for me)