Three nations control most of the territory in the Vendetta Online universe, and as a beginning pilot, you'll ally yourself with one of these races. Your race determines your starting location, faction alignments, and indirectly, the equipment available to you when you begin the game.
There's an in-depth history of the Vendetta Universe and the three racesavailable [http://www.vendetta-online.com/h/storyline.html here]. For a brief profile of the factions, read on.
====The Itani Nation====
The Itani are an advanced people, having the longest history of space travel among the three races. Their civilization, living in isolation and peace for a thousand years, has made great developments in science, the arts, and spiritual, mental, and martial powers. However, a darkness lingers in their past. The Serco, once fellow colonists on Terra II, suffered countless atrocities commanded by the purist Itani leaders. The climactic battle of this war drove the Itani people near to extinction, and they fled the planet in search of a new life. Though the culture as a whole has moved beyond their bloody past, the Serco seem committed to reviving old hatreds, and the Itani have had no choice but to fight back.
====The Serco Dominion====
The Serco Dominion is a proud nation, valuing personal strength and honor in combat above all else. They were once a peaceful people, scientists and thinkers whose advanced research methods proved crucial for the Exiles' survival. However, philosophical and cultural differences with the other Terra II colonists quickly began to alienate the Serco people, eventually leading to all-out war. Their enemies, the Itani, were driven off the planet, and Serco military leaders instated a provisional government to protect its people against any future attacks. This government, and the culture of war it fostered, have persisted for over a thousand years, leaving the Serco with the largest military in known space.
====The Union of Independent Territories====
The Union of Independent Territories is a loosely knit union of corporations, merchants and explorers clinging to life in deep space. They are widely revered as innovators, as life without a homeworld has called for truly unique advances in space station and ship construction technology. However, this societal structure has also made UIT space a haven for pirates, unscrupulus merchants, and the results of autonomous technological experiments gone awry. Like the Itani, the UIT has occasionally fallen under the ill graces of the Serco. However, many UIT merchants have highly advantageous trade agreements with the Serco government, so past affronts are often overlooked.