One thing you should think about is... Who will you fight?
Sure RP is important, but a faction can only survive if there's enough PVP to keep things interesting. Unless you've got a band of dedicated hardcore RPers who are satisfied with roleplaying as miners/gastransporters and their escorts, you should consider these questions.
As the GMG who'll you kill?
Will fighting off pirates attacking your convoys be enough?
Will you police Sigma 13 to keep it free of all piracy?