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Belaerim posted on r/scifi5w
Glynn Stewart has a good trilogy of trilogies with this concept. Humanity is just starting to explore with FTL, which triggers the local empire nearest to us to forcibly claim humanity as a protectorate. There are other alien empires which aren’t as friendly, as well as fallen empires of ancients nearer the core. https://www.glynnstewart.com/universe/duchy-of-terra/ It starts with The Terran Privateer, and all nine novels also have audiobook adaptations.