What if, as an alternative to NPC soldiers, there were NPC civilians. In the lore it is said that there were over 50000 people that survived to Auraxis. Many are soldiers. These characters could miners, non combat engineers and medics, or plain civilians that, if owned or capture by a empire could give a slight buff.
Engy's could lower vehicle spawn times, miners give a rescourse buff medics lower spawn wait times and regular people just adding realism(for lack of better ideas)
I don't want this at launch ,but as something implemented later?