""...use the Racial Tech area to house a 'Player Style' tech where you could modd in better shields (like the federation)...""

Interesting idea in general...yet...I must wonder about this "federation" thing. If you speak of the Star Trek "federation" then you are sadly mistaken about the quality of their shields.

visit http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/

If you were referring to a different federation, then I most humbly apologize...