Illegal aliens?
That is, star clusters resist break-up.
Could be they hitch rides from galaxy to galaxy to find new biologically rich feeding grounds (which, for advanced civilizations actually means sources of calcium, iron, sodium, and so forth that are required for life).
That’s what happens when the Kodans break thru the Frontier Barrier.
“The Last Starfighter” for those who don’t know.
LaStarza. Front group designed to lump up the Milky Way and then smoothe the transition.
Billions and billions to follow.