<snip> ...
For some reason my status with the Federation is Hostile. (Scanned twice and have spent Weeks trying to fix it and it went from unfriendly to hostile!)
<snip>
"also ..."
Got to the conflict zone and was attacked by every federation single ship and it wont let me choose the federation side so I can not participate in this goal. And there is no Empire or Alliance goal to complete.
<more snip>
I'm with you on this problem B.R. I too have been locked as hostile by Fed's and I've made sure I don't attack Federation friendly factions (except if wanted). I try to do missions for the Fed associated groups and avoid jobs from others unless there is nothing better, but even then have to be selective.
I get blue up arrow most of the time, (which I assume is an improving rep and not me getting deeper in the mire ) and I have managed to become merely unfriendly with a few Fed allied fractions, but because I'm generally a hostile there are not many Fed friendly missions available to me.
.
Another issue, you don't even become friendly with Fed by getting rank promotions. I've done a few rank up missions and got to 'Post Commander' (whatever that is?), but I'm still called enemy and shot at when at Federal stations !?
.
ONE UPSIDE is that while you get shot at while going in and out of space stations at least they don't scan you for illegal cargo )
I think it is a balance thing, doing bad things drives you down the rep table fast, but there is no easy way back up. They could really do with it being less uneven.
..
Yes I've also had combat missions where I can't choose sides or can only choose the one I don't want to support.
If it's to do with status, then once that's fixed this will become less of a problem. (if you 'behave' afterwards ).
.
Looks like only community goals for you will be boring supply ones until then ... sorry