How can I join the federation? I'm currently friendly with them.

[LewisHolt]

I only really do transport missions and bounty to improve my status within the federation but I'm trying to join the federation faction but I've probably done about 5-6 transport missions in the past week. I still haven't got any invitation to ally with the federation although I am allied with specific systems within the federation.
How many transport missions do I have to do to eventually become allied. :/

 

[Rich Bramwell]

The amount often depends on the missions you do chap, if you are just doing simple trading missions, maybe try some kill or collect missions, I found the quickest way for me to go for was assassination missions that made them happy quicker and allied with the Feds and the local minor fed faction that had issued the missions. Also move around the local stations more if you just want Fed rep to get to a petty officer or above with the main fed faction, or stay with the locals if you want to help that minor fed faction to get allied with that station or system.
You do get slow reputation upgrades for just trading with a fed system and being friendly and not breaking any laws too chap. My rep went up first because I was just trading a lot with the Feds, then later I chose to go for the kill missions to get my rank up a bit with them so I had the rank to buy a Fed Dropship when I had the credits.
Once you get allied you get scanned less if you do not change ships often and it's a little easier to smuggle into the big stations then chap, but still somewhat risky too..

 

[Don_Von_Hulio]

Just do missions for federally allied factions and only trade with federal stations. Afaik the only ship unlocked is the Dropship... While the Imps have good unlockables with more on the way.

I hope FD is just testing us Feds. If they were to release something worth having for the Feds, alot of Emperials would flip flop their allegiance skewing the factions before FD adds in repercussions for defecting from a high rank position.

One other thing i dont like is how can we move up to such high ranks and not even get any decals?

 

[TriumphANT]

Moving around within Fed space has a HUGE influence on how fast you get progression missions and gain rep. It's almost as though the system stagnates a bit if you just keep centred in one place. Mixing up rares runs, where you're passing through lots of systems in two/three directions got me up to Ensign very quickly. I just stopped off at Fed places on the way to refuel, and picked up whatever mid-level delivery missions were hanging around. When I went exploring and came back, I was promoted to Lieutenant within two days, which is strange as I didn't do very much! Certainly no assassination stuff. So don't hang around one Fed system or area too much. Get moving.

 

[Jaybong]

Does selling weapons and modules still work? Used to be just selling very expensive ship parts at their stations would improve your rep. But I am unfriendly with the Feds and still get rank missions.