How do I set up trade routes and treaties with other races ? I understand that I need the galactic translator, but who I do get going once I have it. To me it looks like I only can use a very limited number of choice to communicate ... Thx
To get trade routes running you need to research trade and build frighters (build them on the star with the highest income). Send the frighters to foreign stars.
Alternatively you can change frighters for technology in the diplomacy screen (diplo boni really help, you need to research some technologies the AIs don't have). Advantage is, that the frighter is already near by the AI stars and you get the money much earlier.
On the diplo screen you can exchange money (not in maso games), ships and technologies and hustle an AI into a war.
Later on once you and the AI researched Alliance technology and you got to a close relationship you can form alliances.