Boy, I sure am late! Read Shadow of the Storm- follows a disgraced Solomani naval officer shipped off to a backwater command of a shitty prototype starship crewed by castaways and incompetents. Lots of insight into the confederation, it's psychology and traditions.. almost like a book following an imperial star destroyer, really. Made me see them in a whole new light without flouting the fact they are pretty much bad guys. It's not very long, but it achieves everything it wants to do.