I feel like I've seen a lot of "Roman Empire... in SPAAAAACCCCCEEEEEEEEE!", but much less "collapse of the British Empire... in SPAAAAACCCCCEEEEEEEEE!". So I really enjoyed this one. Well-plotted, strong characterization, uses the sociopolitical framework and the aliens to great advantage. Feel like there are a lot of alien species off-screen still. Excited to read about the fall of the Dread Empire.