As this conversation is open to all I'll pitch in my own, unsolicited, two cents.
To sum it up to save everyone the bother of actually reading why I feel these things. I do not believe that the GMG are to be considered a sovereign in house simply because I haven't seen any desire from them to be considered as such.
Case closed.
*borrows Jinx's pontification cap*
Now as to the implied question concerning relative power, well... I've read a few points in this thread that I figure are worth touching on, simply because I'm always correct and my views add a nice foundation of absolution to a discussion.
The first is that H fuel is very important to the four houses. It's what runs ships. Tradelanes get a lot done without requiring that you burn a burner to get from point A to B, but when you need to rely on Newton to get from point A to B H-fuel is what you use.
Deuterium, a disco addition, is of course heavy water. Which I believe is intended for use in a more long range capacity (I gleaned this secret from what it says on the label). In other words, if you need to get from point A to Y in stead of B, you fire up the deut on your long range deep space exploration vessel. I can't imagine it's really all that rare, given that the only thing you need to have to generate the stuff is an ocean and patience, but perhaps Canaria has some unique qualities which generates enough for commercial sale.
Rheinland produces enough H fuel from its sad little planet to utilize for government use. This fuel is produced at a loss. They can keep the military in the air, so to speak, but it's not competition for the GMG nor does it impact the local market.
Samura is also attempting to produce H fuel on its lonesome and has a rather nice field for it, however it's not operating too hot, is considered such a foolhardy venture that IC wont insure it and is, again, a pale alternative to what the GMG is putting out. It produces, but simply not much.
Liberty and Bretonia are both strictly consumers, having no alternative fuel sources of which I'm aware.
Mox and Plutonium are utilized in the heavy reactors of battleships.
This puts into the hands of the GMG not inconsiderable fiscal capital, which in turn I expect is used to expand upon their operation. Further increasing the size of their venture and the manpower required to ensure its smooth operation in a part of the world fraught with many dangers. They lack the neutrality enjoyed in many quarters by the IMG and must defend their claims and convoys by force of arms. A force which when convened in one location has historically proven itself formidable.
So while I shall certainly not employ a term as foolish as "powerful as a house" (a notion over employed by persons substantially lacking in vision and scope, I feel) it would be foolish indeed to dismiss the GMG as lacking in significant potency. Both from a practical and political point of view. The same business view which allows them to tend to their own affairs, protect and enforce the laws in their own space and do so in defiance of their many enemies. All while churning out a profit.
Why bother with declaring yourself a state when you can just run yourself as one without the political claptrap?
Edit: And the KNF is well versed in nebula combat from their experience in...
