An idea I had for this game was having subraces, I am unsure if it is possible, you all tell me.  It was for a thing I wanted to do with the factions from a RPG called Alternity, but could have many applications.

Basically, humans have explored a part of the galaxy, and as they did, different governments/factions formed.  So, one could pick human (TEC) but then could select a "subrace" which would provide a number of other bonuses and penalties (balanced, so even).  In this way, there would not need to be tons of custom research of ships for a race, but still a player could select something more, to make it have a bit more variety. 

In a perfect world, a subrace might even open a custom research tree and / or a ship or two.  This still would mean far less work for a subrace than a real race.

More than likely, it would mean gaining some research a level earlier, balanced with some a level later, and then perhaps one more modifier above or below the normal on things.  Perhaps that way, or perhaps a
planatary bonus" somehow applied to the race?

I await your expert opinions