Did the Retros participate in the defense of Earth at the Battle of Sol? Or did they never leave Gemini Sector?
They had tons of ships and an apparent great hatred for humanity, but no particular enmity toward the Kilrathi. Methinks they could have added a lot to the diversionary action that allowed Duke to board the Hakagas - at least their Talons were shielded, armed, and probably jump-capable!
But whatever their principles and ideology, whatever their willingness to die for their own causes, apparently they were never as selfless as the volunteers and civilians who sacrificed themselves to aid the 3rd fleet in the defense of Earth. The volunteers can't even really be compared to the kamikazes, for the kamikazes at least had warheads and the chance to earn some measure of personal glory or honor. The volunteers, on the other hand, had no real ability to deal damage, lacking shields, warheads, or the ability to penetrate capital ship phase shielding, or take any appreciate number of Kilrathi out with them.
Roleplaying a Retro might actually prove interesting against this backdrop. Lots of people join cults because of anxieties over self-worth, the charisma of the cult leader, or an appeal to a "higher" righteousness or direction. A Retro experiencing a crisis of faith after the Battle of Sol would be a very interesting character to play, as he or she might be forced to re-evaluate:
- his perception of himself relative to the true martyrs at the Battle of Sol
- be faced with the reality that the homeworld would have been utterly destroyed by the Kilrathi if not for resort to technology
- be faced with the horror and fear of mass genocide in the home sectors instead of the minor skirmishes he's used to in the Gemini Sector. How many Retros have actually seen a major fleet action headed their way, rather than just picking fights with merchants or privateers? How many Retros have even dealt with the tactical situation of being outnumbered?
- re-exposure to the moral and ethical worth of human beings of other faiths, since in Gemini, the Retros mostly see the worst of humanity - pirates, bounty hunters, mercenaries, and smugglers. If that's the side of humanity they see, perhaps it's more understandable how they came to the ideological leanings that led them to join the Retros.