It's not grey. It's full of colors!
But of course this is the view of the rainbow press (aka GalNet):
Zachary Hudson, President of the republican Federal branch, smokes cigars, loves profit, says he protects the "free worlds", loves shotguns. On one hand he is known to pay bountyhunters best prices to fight crime. On the other hand it surfaced that he used military help from the Kumo Crew against outward threats, mostly the Empire and the traitor Yuri. Evil tongues claim that President Hudson is quite at friendly terms with Archon Delaine.
Felicia Winters, figure head of the Federal liberal branch. Sure, Felicia, I think she loves her cat. She is a political powerhouse, and takes lot of influence with her media-campaigns. Theire combat pilots are known to "stay frosty" at all times ... whatever that means.
Arissa L. Duval, The Empress - got to rule her Empire... seems to be pretty busy task. I think she is Zarek Null in disguise or the other way around.
Aisling Duval, the Empress sweet sister, loves to tend to Imperial slaves and builds them entertainment centers. Can't decide whom to merry. Some see a glimpse of hope for Federal-Imperial peace in her person.
Torval, the grumpy senator with a big mining business "employing" lot's of Imperial slaves, giving them milk and cookies each friday. Some say she also does business with Archons Kumo Burger franchise.
Patreus, the Admiral. Basking with his fleet.
Mahon, Prime Minister of the Alliance. He united farmers and miners of the outer rims. Alliance grew pretty big. Some call it the green giant. It's somehow neutral. Rumors won't fade that Alliance collaborated with the Thargoids in the INRA times. But that's just FedEmp propaganda, ain't it? Also it's well kown that Mahon
loves donuts and bagles.
Parnav Antal: some call him the space-hippie, some call him the gangster of love...
Li Yong Ruy: CEO of Sirious Corp. Sells ships for a discount. What's not to like?
Yuri Grom: a Federal traitor who established his own power and at some time allied with the Empire. He likes gold and he started the trend to wear full grown beards in some parts of the galaxy.
Archon Delaine: Steals from the rich and keeps all to himself and his crew. Archon had a long going grudge with the Imperial Admiral, but since Yuri invaded into his teritorry focus shifted a bit, Archon envies Yuri for his beard quite a bit. Also he makes great burgers. Zachary Hudson get's a family pack each week.
The Thargoids:
they love barnacles, Meta Alloys and occupied escape pods and they like to build creepy surface structures. Also they are sending theire semi-organic probes throughout the galaxy, searching for new friends. They had some friendly contact with the now extinct Guardians, until the Guradians self-destructed by some kind of "skynet-incident".
They seem to be pretty peacefull, they like to scan things and watch ships drifting through space helplessly after using theire disabling force field generators. If you want to play with them, you just have to drop into one of theire instances. They announce where they set up shop for playful interaction through emissions from theire planetary structures.
Sometimes they like to crack open a starport. The mother drone frowns upon this as rude behavior. But the boys are just curious, they mean no harm.