Either that, or they haven't got the resources to do much other than stay on the defence. You're too remote from the Empire for them to bother seriously with you, and the Federation are more concerned with what's in the other direction. I'm not knocking the Alliance, but they have to remember that they are a minor power compared with the other two. If they forget this they could end up in trouble. I thought she was staunchly independent.
Most decent pilots are.
The Federation often does the same. That's why despite our small size relative to the Federation and the Empire, neither force dares touch us. Either that, or they haven't got the resources to do much other than stay on the defence. You're too remote from the Empire for them to bother seriously with you, and the Federation are more concerned with what's in the other direction. I'm not knocking the Alliance, but they have to remember that they are a minor power compared with the other two.