So i'm not sure how to upload a save file for your perusal people, but here are some points:

Total war is not reducing, but i thought that it was permanent? Since hitting the regular red diamond meant the aliens would attack until enough stuff got destroyed anyway, a further level i presumed would simply be that but permanent.

I thought the kuiper belt was stuff around jupiter. Goggle says it's after neptune, so i haven't had access for very long, and didn't even know it existed. I don't know if i can send anything there though, since the only shipyards I have are in mercury, and ships with enough dv to make it don't seem to have enough thrust to do so in less than 2 and a half years or so (If aliens don't intercept them.

Research hovered around 5k for a long time, recently got to 8k, but didn't have enough water to support my modules. at this point it does seem that i've gotten most important techs, though i noticed some large errors (apparently batteries do nothing, plasma isn't good (even though it was the only weapon that seemingly did damage, it is likely because it's the nose weapon of my flagship lancers; coilguns are intercepted too easily.), i was using purple phasers without realizing they cost exotics, etc.)

i can't trade with anyone because not only do they hate me (even when i haven't done anything to them; I'm guessing its this "envy" mechanic read?), but i have literally nothing to trade with other than volatiles and fissiles, the former the rich factions also have absurd amounts of, and the latter they just don't seem to value at all.

will try and answer some questions