I'm not certain if there is already a topic on this or not, but are the Gremlins a part of an empire? I mean, it seems like they are, if you think about it.
Two examples are:
-Follow the rules and show respect for your leader.
-Don't follow the rules and suffer the consequences.
The Gremlins do have an emperor, his name is Tinkinzar. He is to great colony (Gremlin underground city, location/population unknown) what Adolf Hitler is to Nazi Germany. Ruling its people with an iron fist, Tinkinzar usually lets the crimson order (the gestapo equivalent of SK) to his biddings, whether or not it is silencing his enemies or hunt down potential threat.
Of course, emberlight is the only place a Gremlin could go if they are fed up with Tinkinzar's oppression. And emberlight has ever since been a needle in Tinkinzar's eyes. But for whatever the reason, he still can't find it in the clockwork, give kudos to the Gremlin exiles.
I don't think most Gremlin follow rules, they are living in a 'dog eat dog' society. Where only control and power mattered, and any Gremlin will capitalize any opportunity they get to back stab their comrads and get to a higher position of power.