*PS: This is a more lore-heavy chapter about the different in-universe factions. (Skip this chapter if you don't feel like a nerd today.)
Context:
Following the previous defeat of Sniper at Mike's hands, the Empire shattered into multiple factions, with each man for himself. Without the presence of cyberknights as powerful as Sniper or Mike, the Empire's bloated power structure now has no single entity greater than the rest. In this regard, even the cyberknight order was in disarray following the disastrous loss of their strongest members. As most of the knights were left without a leader and an end goal, many began to question their loyalty to the new people in charge.
However, power is more likely to be in the hands of individuals in possession of one of the 21 fleets used by Sniper during the Cleansing Crusade, as each fleet has enough men and firepower to force a whole continent to submission. Not to mention, they are the only source of cyberknights serving outside of the order's authority, thus giving each fleet a claim to power of their own.
Keep in mind that these developments happen during the months following Sniper's death, and do not mean the next chapter will start with these events already set and done.
The National Empire:
In Europe, CR-455 kept the National Empire as it was to inspire men to join under his banner. However, most people knew that it was nothing more than a ruse, as CR-455 is inexperienced as a leader and only got his position through his power and Sniper's favour. Now with their emperor dead, many didn't see reason in joining CR-455 and worshipping him as their new Emperor.
As for his forces, CR-455 managed to align the admiral of the 10th fleet, the Rising Leaves, with about 2 divisions of Maple Marines turning traitors as a result of their fleet's alignment. On top of this, Athena, with the guarantee of her fleet's independence if she swore for CR-455, also had to kneel to save her 9th fleet, The Falling Spartans, from a worse fate. Finally, wishing to go home following their near-complete destruction during the war, the 21st fleet, The Emperor's Gladiators, also stayed under their old banner, but is effectively useless as a proper fleet. Aside from this, about three million irregular soldiers are still under CR-455's command.
As for the lands under his control, CR-455 controlled all of Europe, extending all the way to Russia, and downward, including Turkey. The capital was established in Rome, the birthplace of the Empire's core leaders and movement. Ultimately, CR-455's rule was lacking from day one, as mass desertion and administrative chaos plagued his Empire.
The New National Empire:
In Asia, Judge, with the blessing of Sniper's Divine Servants, established the New National Empire in an attempt to revive their master's vision. However, without clear leadership and direction, the Empire could be considered more as a vassal state rather than a unified Empire, with loyalty being sworn to the central council, but never total. Many did flock to the New National Empire, as they saw how Judge preached a direction more true to the vision of Sniper. But at last, there may be direction and words, but no movement or changes.
As for the forces under the New National Empire, it is considered the most numerous and powerful among all other factions. At the core of the Empire, with absolute loyalty to Judge's new council of leaders, the 1st fleet, The First Risen, the 2nd fleet, The Ashen Storm, and the 3rd fleet, The World Bearers, made up the main strength of the faction. They started the war as the most loyal to Sniper and will remain so even after his death to those who they saw as somewhat true heirs of his throne. They are the fleets that will obey the council and still fight with the same ferocity as they used to when under Sniper.
As for the fleet that remained semi-loyal to the council, there are the 6th fleet, Ice Kraken, the shattered 8th fleet, Pillar of the Eastern Skies, the 12th fleet, Napoleonic Guards, the 16th fleet, The Devoted of Armaggedon, and the 20th fleet, The Angels of Ragnarok. These fleets, created later during the war, showed less zeal toward Sniper, but nonetheless adhered to his vision. However, most of them only pledged to the New National Empire because their home countries were occupied by CR-455's Empire. Despite their reluctant loyalty, they can still be counted on during times of crisis.
Finally, with only word-of-mouth loyalty to the New National Empire, there are the 5th fleet, Blitz Marines, the broken 11th fleet, United Brotherhood, the 18th fleet, The Heavenly Warriors, and the shattered 19th fleet, Nightbringers. These fleets almost never partake in any politics of the New National Empire and often act independently from the council. They are, however, not considered rogue elements as they also walk a careful line so as not to antagonize the council and the Empire they swore to.
In terms of landmass, the New National Empire might seem big on paper, spanning from the Caucasus and Russia, all the way down past Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, stopping at the bottom of Thailand, while including all the nations above Thailand. However, the lands truly under the council's control were within the borders of China. All semi-loyal fleets and their leaders were given so-called provinces to administer.
For example, the 6th fleet controls the north and most of Western Russia, the remnants of the 8th fleet being given Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, the 12th fleet being given reign over the Caucasus and Kazakhstan, the 16th fleet being given Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the four other Stan lands, and the 20th fleet being given Mongolia and middle Russia. These lands, however, are simply temporary holdings and will always obey the council's orders, with the fleets not being able to bring changes to them.
Finally, for the fleets that simply acted outside of the council's orders. For starters, the 11th fleet took control over its homeland of India, Sri Lanka, as well as Bangladesh, but since its defeat during the war at the siege of Beijing, its independence was not considered a threat to the New National Empire. For the 18th fleet, the situation became a bit more complicated, as it is a fleet made up of Chinese people, meaning they easily recruited many of the ex-soldiers and marines that surrendered following China's defeat during the war. For this, the 18th fleet swelled to a size that is concerning even for the council. However, instead of spending their energy antagonizing the 18th fleet, the council decided to give it land concessions as a form of appeasement. For this, the 18th fleet controlled Northern China as well as Beijing, alongside Korea and all the Eastern parts of Siberia. As for the 19th fleet, since its destruction during the war, it remained as a broken force stationed in Nepal.
The real exception, however, remains the 5th fleet, which did not have a set base or a land under its control. Instead, the famous Admiral Valentine turned his fleet into a mercenary fleet, serving whoever had something worthy to trade for its service. However, when it did need repair or a place to stay, it would usually dock within territories controlled by the 18th fleet, further solidifying both fleets' unusual and untouchable status.
All around, most Imperial remnants stayed with the New National Empire, but with its messy administration and lack-cluster loyalty, nothing really gets done. It is an Empire of stagnation, but guarded by a force that also made it untouchable.
The Neo-Japanese Empire:
Following the chaos, Admiral Kaito of the 13th fleet, Horizon Samurai, decided to become a warlord instead of pledging himself to anyone. However, with the 13th fleet not being the best or largest out of the 21 fleets, he had to content himself with simply becoming the Emperor of Japan after forcefully marrying himself into the Imperial family. Following this, he declared Japan an Empire with almost the same landmass as it had before the crusade.
Though it was daring of Kaito to declare himself so boldly an Emperor right at the doorsteps of the New National Empire, he soon found out that the Empire under Judge and his council was more interested in dealing with CR-455 than actually minding his own little Empire. To them, he was not worth the trouble to deal with; thus, Kaito got away with his little Empire. However, maybe one day, there will be consequences for a man with such hubris.
The United-Arab Empire:
Formed by the battered 4th fleet, The Martyrs of Dunes, it included lands from Northern Africa and the northern areas of Central Africa. Most of its recruits came from the Middle East and are of the Sunni Muslim faith. However, in a massive battle against their ideological opposite, the 7th fleet, they were driven back and only controlled Northern Africa.
Though bitter and itching for a rematch in the future against their rivals, they now mostly focus on reinforcing the land under their control and recruiting massively to boost their numbers. On top of their own strength, CR-455 also supplied them with weapons and equipment as a show of good faith and in an attempt to drive them closer to aligning with his Empire. So far, they have only considered CR-455 an ally, and not their leader, as they only ever listen to either God or Sniper himself.
The Greater Persian Kingdom:
Formed by the equally battered 7th fleet, Sons of the Crescent Moon, in a tale as old as time, they fought their ideological rivals from the 4th fleet. Controlling all lands in the Middle East, the 7th fleet basically chased many Arabs of Sunni faith out of their homeland to create their own kingdom of only Shia Muslims.
Though somewhat victorious in the conflict, they knew the 4th fleet would eventually come back for revenge and to reclaim their lost homes, so they recruited greatly from the locals to form a fleet capable of facing the 4th's retribution. On top of this, Judge and his council also offered the 7th fleet supply and equipment as a gesture of goodwill to try to draw them into their side of the camp. However, just like CR-455's attempt with the 4th, the 7th only considered the New National Empire an ally, and not above them. However, Judge would continue the alliance if it meant they were going to fight the 4th fleet, which CR-455 supported. Just like with the 4th fleet, the 7th fleet only believes in God and follows Sniper himself.
The Polish Dominion:
Formed from the 17th fleet, The Knights of Poland, since they wanted nothing to do with CR-455, whom they viewed as corrupt and incompetent, or Judge, whom they viewed as an impostor and power-hungry, they chose to settle in Southern Africa. Controlling the South African continent and southern Central Africa, the fleet only settled temporarily in those areas, while awaiting a chance to return to Poland. However, most of the men within the 17th fleet will gradually lose hope of that dream, as the world around them falls deeper into chaos.
The Oceanic Alliance:
Formed from the 14th fleet, Lords of the Seven Seas, the alliance consisted of the Islands of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and everything in the Oceanic continent. Seeking a more diplomatic approach, the alliance called for most non-aligned fleets or scattered units to unite under its banner. With this approach, the 14th fleet also swelled up with scattered elements from many different forces.
The Oceanic Alliance is also considered the most friendly and neutral of all the broken factions. On top of their own strength, they had also formed a strong bond with the 17th fleet and the 15th fleet, as they had also declared their neutrality just like them. So far, with good relations with the New National Empire, the Neo-Japanese Empire, and the independent 5th fleet, they enjoyed a relatively safe and reliable existence outside of the chaos that plagued both major Empires.
The Antarctic Republic:
Formed from the 15th fleet, Glacial Barons, the republic adopted a mostly isolationist approach. With the whole Antarctic continent under their control, the republic warned that anyone who dared to approach their land would be declared an enemy. So far, following their settlement in the barren continent, the 15th fleet has cut all ties with the outside world. However, with the need for some supplies inaccessible to them on the icy continent, the 15th fleet still maintained a decent relationship with the Oceanic Alliance.
The Lunar Fortress:
Formed by the Elite Fleet personally commanded by Mike during the war, The World Forgers, they escaped to the moon with their spaceworthy ships, refusing to partake in the bullshit on Earth. With total and utter loyalty to Mike only, they were also inspired to be bastions of moral and honour, and thus refused to become pawns to the rotting factions. Since going down the path of a warlord or becoming a mercenary fleet also went against their core values, they decided also decided to adopt an isolationist approach.
The fleet, though isolationist, established a decent relationship with Valentine's 5th fleet for trades, while also maintaining a secretive relationship with Athena's 9th fleet for repairs and supply. On the moon, the fleet mostly stayed hidden on the dark side, instead of exposing its presence to the world. With a perfectly executed escape from Earth, the World Forgers' fate on the moon was only known to Athena and Valentine, with other fleets suspecting its disbandment instead.
The Allied Forces:
A combination of all non-Imperial factions combined together in North and South America, it sought to possibly retake the world from the Empire's fractured remnants. However, since it was led by the leadership of the rotting old world, the faction also struggled to concentrate its efforts. On top of a corrupt leadership, it is also an amalgamation of almost all of the exiled governments from the pre-Empire era countries as well, meaning its leading war council resembled the United Nations' assembly. To add insult to injury, with how diverse its armies are, being composed of elements from hundreds of countries, cohesion is almost impossible. Finally, lacking an industrial might capable of fueling a World War, the few ships available were barely maintained through hopes and prayers.
As of the current story, the Allied Forces lacked the strength to even dislodge a single Imperial fleet from their occupied land. Most refuse to admit it, but the Allied Forces, as a faction, is basically a dying corpse still being sucked dry of its last drop of fluid by its greedy and rotten leadership. It is a sinking ship, but many still remain hopeful and oblivious on its deck.
Other factions:
Though rarely mentioned or seen as an afterthought, some cyberknights who believed in their own delusion of divinity also formed their own Empire with swarms of followers under their control. They used their power to intimidate or destroy any opposition, making them Gods in the eyes of normal people. Depending on how powerful or creative the cyberknight warlord can be, he will either rule over a town or a whole city. However, grow too big or out of control, pest control in the form of the Cardinal Knights will still come to hunt these self-proclaimed Gods down. In the eyes of the cyberknight order, starting a cult or using one's power for extreme self-service outside the Empire's interest is considered high treason. In a world full of individuals such as yourself, you should tread carefully, knowing your powers are far from absolute. To declare yourself a God, you must be ready to die defending that title.
Finally, smaller Imperial forces and such might also try to start their own faction, but these are often limited in reach or power. Some territories might remain neutral through luck, but these are far and in between.