[@Keyguyperson] I specifically said it was the equivalent of an arctic outpost, it's effectively off the map anyways. So while tenably they DO have contact with the rest of the Union, the chances of getting a response are about 0 because it's like an ant trying to communicate with an elephant. The elephant 1. doesn't give a shit and 2. can't even see the ant in the first place.

EDIT: Also gross planet-sized factories, my stuff's already powerful enough that it feels wrong to have more than 20 ships and 10,000 soldiers.