The Freon Realm
before the Terran ascent the Freon Realm stretched across 34 star systems. Unlike the Terrans and the Union later, they did not colonize every world, but only planets suitable to them.
The 34 planets were spread out over an area of almost 300 light years.
They were only connected via courier ships. Only the three oldest colonies had substantial armed space ships present. And no planet or system featured any form of planetary defenses.
Historians later were convinced that the Freons would not have been a threat to United Earth at pretty much any point.[1]
United Earth invested over 50 percent of its GDP into weapons, ships, and armament. Over 60% of its entire culture is fight and war focused.
The Freons at their best times invested five percent at best, and it was used for small recon type ships.
Note: Their sister species the Ferons presented a similar picture and invested only slightly more resources in fleets, weapons, training and resources.
[1] Admiral Stahl wrote in his second book . "The Early Years" : Quote:
"Historians look back in time from cozy studies, with a cup of tea at arms reach and analyze the decissions and events of times gone by. They are for the most part blinded with hind sight. Knowing hiw things turned out, having access to information that was not available at the time.
The Freons and their cousins the Ferons might indeed not have been a considerable threat in terms of military strength to the United Earth, but they have always been a serious threat. One easily forgets that the Freons have been instigating and conducting missions on Earth long before the Ascent. They have been a TL 6 society long before Earth reached TL 1 and they had contacts and alliances on the Galactic Stage before Earth had any. The Ferons called for Earths extermination before the First Galactic Council. That alone was reason enough for me to commence every resource to make sure they won't make that request again,"