You have to finish the storyline to be able to be free, though I think there might be mods that can change that.
There are lots of hints on how to beat the race here though, just search around.

Welcome to TLR btw

Thanx,
I looked through earlier postings but couldn't find them. Then, wouldn't you know it right after posting this I found the FFM and single player MOD links in a posting. Oh well. Now to find one on how to use MODS.....

You can try this link


And here is a linky to the Using mods Forum, you'll have to ajust the age of topics displayed though

I believe that after a point, the game prevents you from accepting any more side-missions, forcing you to continue along with the story. This is to prevent your level from rolling over and skipping straight to the next plot point as soon as you complete the next story mission.

Once you complete the second Kusari story misision (attack Heavans Gate), you have to proceed w/ the tsory. THIS IS SUCH A SPOILER. In Liberty, all out-of-sytem Jh's and Jg's are lcoked, smae with Bretonia I belive. Once you hit Kusari, you're completly free (until you start doing the story mision). I once went to omicron gamma while still in the sp story (I was allied w/ teh corsairs from fighting Red Hessians in omega-3, I was also allied w/ Liberty and Rheinland, it was pretty wierd).