I thank you all for your constructive inputs. I've had a rather busy week-end and an even more busy week ahead, but I'll do my best to come back here and integrate some of your points into the Shaltszs background, but I need some more time to mull them over.
I'll probably have to expand on their first contacts, as you managed to convince me it'd have been hard for such a species to discover Warp drive by themselves.
In the meantime, don't hesitate to keep the good ideas coming
"The main difference between Trekkies and Manchester United fans is that Trekkies never trashed a train carriage. So why are the Trekkies the social outcasts?"
Terry Pratchett