Don't get hung up on any one chess piece. Your loyalty will not be returned, you will not be deeded large tracks of land, and the girls will still think you're a nerd no matter what chess piece you fly for.
Fly for all sides you'll make more friends, and enemies (it is a combat game after all) that way.
Try to stay out of the hordes,(both sides). You don't learn anything other than it really does resemble the mine, mine, mine,seagulls in "Finding Nemo"