Phaserlight has already touched on this with Nation specific ships. However the story line portrays a fierce competitive relationship between the Itani and Serco. This needs to be instilled into game play in further ways. One way would be to have more race related missions - (eg New (nation specific)ships are not just released. The nation needs to provide mega resources to the appropriate research center. After the design is finalized, huge resources need to go into producing a new station (or station addition) that will manufacture the vessel). Progress can be graphically (or numerically) illustrated so that fierce comptetion with foreigners and powerful national unity of purpose is realised, especially if the national projects start at about the same time.

But...but...but... then this would be an RPG, with actual content, rather than Space-Quake™!

And we can't be having that, now can we.

[EDIT] WTF, mate? I kill serco every time I fly :P The fact that that includes DragonofFire makes me a *better* Itani than you, Lever.

Speaking of folks who should have a clearer idea of their national identity...

But, yes. I agree with GreyTui's basic idea. Possobly this can be incorporated into the overall "nation/faction" A.I. that we'd need to make an economy work.