Looking at the NG and local defense ships in R8, I think there is a great deal of room for some interesting mini-campaigns.
I was thinking about the idea of two "backwater" provinces, perhaps during the stagnent period of the general war, that have to conduct all actions with thier local defense ships-- auxillary cruisers, NG shps and the odd mainline fleet ship that the governor was able to grab for a few weeks.
It'd have the advantage of first of all, very different tempo's and the challenge of having to fit ships of radically different operating procedures together, as well as a less "firepower intensive" style of combat then we normally see in the General War era.
Any suggestions?