I like the theory of the mathematically obvious RTC protocol, since that would also serve as a sufficient filter for newer races to determine if they are technologically advanced enough. Could they successfully dial in without assistance? Cool let’s start chatting now and begin integration with the federation (plus leaves the opportunity of a plot for an almost-ready race that was given illegal assistance, and maybe it’s revealed that one of the dominant races was also given illegal assistance when they first dialed in)