Perhaps the Ark is part of the Dilbertverse. It appears there are several space-faring civilizations capable of liasing with the Ark, but are apparently so lacking in resources and/or skills and/or manpower that the Ark still has something to offer.

One could rationalize the Chief's comments as referring to acceleration rather than velocity.

With this episode, we've barely got a trend going. The Ark has been aiding both law enforcement and providing medical care to aliens, apparently with the intent of bartering for technological improvements. That appears to imply there has been a larger disaster on an interstellar scale. It can't be good if alien civilizations appear to be little better off than individual domes.