Are We Alone in the Milky Way? The Paradox of the Unvisited Galaxy

What if our galaxy, the Milky Way, teems with alien empires, each spanning several star systems, engaging in trade, conversation, and sometimes conflict? Yet, the question remains: why have we not encountered any of them? This enigma, known as the Fermi Paradox, has intrigued scientists and laypeople alike. The assumption that advanced civilizations would naturally spread across the cosmos seems logical, but the evidence is curiously absent. Could it be that space is not the easily conquerable expanse we想象?