The faction has to exist before it can make tech. There's exceptions to that - ie, minor NPC corporations, things from big names like Arakyd, etc - but insofar as player factions go it should exist before it even thinks about posting tech. I generally won't approve faction-specific technology unless there's an approved faction to go with it.
So faction approval comes before tech approval; tech posted won't be approved until the faction is approved.
Oh, the Wazta area? I didn't realize. But regardless, he hasn't spent much time here, and the time he has spent has been working for the pirates, not really getting to know the locals.
Completely situationally dependent. He is a long standing combat vet, so battles come and go. If his life or those of his comrades aren't on the line he is sarcastic and humorous. When things go wrong his happy go lucky demeanor disappears quickly. And since his "retirement" from the empire wasn't under the best of terms, he doesn't take Sith lightly.