Good discussion, guys. Just a few points I'd like to share my own thoughts on...(of course, bear in mind that I'm just a tad bias with this discussion considering the idea I've formulated into my head for the current fan fiction story I'm working on):
I agree with you, LOAF, that when the Nephilim refer to "the Aligned Peoples," they are indeed referring to the collective group of races they are affiliated with. From the Kilrathi Prophecy and the discussions I've had in the past with LOAF and others on these boards, I have it worked up in my head where the Nephilim and the specific "Aligned Peoples" the Nephilim are referring to are essentially the epitome of Darwinism...through endless conflicts with races (which might be a stretch, but we see the concept touched upon in the Kilrathi Kn'Thrak and alternatively the Tr'Thrak), you get the idea that the Kilrathi have been purposefully pushed into this game of Darwinism, a kind of test that the Nephilim exist to challenge them in at some point. When the Kilrathi surrendered to the Confederation, I myself came to see it as not a complete "loss" in battle, but more like an unconditional armistice...then over time, I got the feeling that relations improved between the Kilrathi and the Confederation, making them - in effect - "allies" or "friends" on some level. In a couple instances, we see them working together against the common threat of the Nephilim.
Now, while "the Aligned Peoples" refers to the current races that comprise this collective the Nephilim speaks about, I see the name as being something comparable to a proclaimed Darwinian perfection. In their eyes, they are the elite, the super-beings the lesser races should feel humble beneath. Should another race find itself gloriously victorious over all other opposition, only then will they be seen as worthy enough to be able to test their might against that of the Nephilim and/or the rest of "the Aligned Peoples" to rise to that same level of superiority themselves and await the next challenger, and so on and so forth. In my mind, though, the general word "alignment" here refers to being a part of this game of Darwinism and "non-alignment" means existing outside this "natural" tendency.
While there's speculation that the Nephilim appeared in our space (Confederation & Kilrathi Space) for the purpose of finding something - an additional idea I've included in my story - the Kilrathi also figure their appearance is in accordance with the Sivar Prophecy of Kn'Thrak because they were "defeated" by the Confederation, and so the bugs have appeared either as Star Gods or as messengers from Star Gods to destroy both the Kilrathi and the group that bested them, the Confederation.
Only the Confederation doesn't share the same plan of Darwinism and violent expansionism as the Kilrathi or the other races that are thrown into this ultimate "test." And in effect, you get the feeling that the Kilrathi themselves suffer a huge culture shock in the period after the War, finally developing a mutually beneficial relationship with the humans they had fought for decades. As such, not only is the Confederation "non-aligned" in this deadly sport, but the Kilrathi too have now removed themselves from the contest because of their relatively peaceful co-existence with a race they were suppose to conquer or truly fall to in battle (neither of which happened).
Anyway, I'm probably reading into everything because I have to in order to write a follow-up story to the events of Prophecy & Secret Ops, but my take on it (in a nutshell) is:
"the Aligned Peoples" - a term the Nephilim use to refer to the strongest indominable races, of which they consider themselves affiliated (though perhaps they are a bit lower on the pecking order as messengers, watchers, and seekers)
"Non-Aligned" - a term the Nephilim use to refer to all creatures that turn their backs on the supposed natural order of ultimate universal Darwinism
Ultimately, there'd be two sides - the "Aligned" which would be all the races involved in this violent test of superiority, and the "Non-Aligned" which would be those races that exist as an affront to that natural order. By that concept, two combating enemies could, by these standards, be on the "same side" because they are part of this ultimate inevitable plan.
But as the Confederation continues its peacetime affairs and the Kilrathi learn to expand beyond their violent engrained tendencies, you get the idea that both are seen as abominations to the Nephilim because they live in violation to this universal will and impulse. As such, they're both weakling races unworthy of standing in the presence of any race of "the Aligned," and will likely be swept aside (in the Nephilim's eyes) by another chosen, more enlightened race or they themselves in times to come. And we get the idea in Prophecy that judgment has already been passed on both, and both are somewhat ignored for the time-being because they are unworthy and inferior, having not evolved themselves through endless combat. The only real reason for the Nephilim's part in our space at the point in time we see is something that was never fully explained to us (i.e. searching for some object of some sort and perhaps just general intel. about both races in preparation for some future eradication).
Anyway, that's my take on things, for better or worse, for right or wrong. If anyone has any comments, additional points to add, arguments, or whatever, feel free...just so long as you don't say something so contrarily compelling that I'm forced to rewrite my whole dang fan fiction story!
- FireFalcon ~};^