Dumb question about joining "factions"

[Jaina Solo]

So say I'd like to massacre the legions of helpless pirates and sidewinders with unpaid speeding tickets as they float around nav beacons, and say I want to do it all in the name of the glorious Empire. Well, I'd love to do just that, but I can't figure out how to be part of the empire, or how to rank up with said empire. From my vague googled understanding, I need to become "allied" with the controlling faction in an empire owned area. And also from my vague googled understanding, I just need to do jobs for said faction. However, when I do such a thing, I don't see my influence with that particular faction rising at all. For instance, I did a job that claimed it would effect my influence with the faction by a "medium" amount, which I might assume would be more than the 0% change in faction influence that I see upon successful completion.

So am I missing something here? I'd really like that Imperial clipper thing, and I understand the ranking process within the Empire is pretty straightforward, but I just can't seem to join. Any help would be greatly appreciated D:

 

[drholliday]

You assume wrong. The faction's influence is a quite big lever to pull and chances are someone else is working against you. There's a thread on the forum (probably first pages) about ranking. There's also a thread explaining the background simulation if you're interested in local factions, how that part works in detail and how you can influence it.

Also doing missions or ranking in the imperial aux navy doesn't mean you joined the Empire. It's pretty much independent of that. If you want to join the Empire look at powerplay (left hand side panel under Galactic Powers). But if you join​ a major faction you will have enemies.