Less and less admirals

[Doomed]

So I'm only about 70 years till the game ends and will win so it's not the end of the world but as my admirals die of old age I can't recruit new ones and the max number available keeps going down.
I'm down to 6 total and 4 are mercs. Is this a Romulans thing or am I doing something wrong?
I used to have 9/9 but now it says 6/6 and never goes up.
Us there a way to get more?

[The King In Yellow]

check edicts and made missions they allow for more or limit them