I had something like that once. In 1.3 beta, I was playing as a custom race - Free Terran Refuge, refugees from an earth that forsaken democracy and free thought for theocratic zeolotry (yes, that includes the US). I had made some allies, and after invading a minor race near the Terrans, Earth declared war on me, which led to my allies declaring war on earth, which led to the neutral arceans declaring war on my allies to which I had to declare war with to uphold my alliances. Once the Drengin wade in, it was total war in the galaxy. And here, I was playing a Good race. Of course, I won in the end...but usually this sort of thing happens in the middle of a game. This Galactic War started near the very beginning of the game. First time I had to develop my military first, rather than my economy.

While weird, it was the most fun I had in a long while.

This is very interesting, but it was also inevitable based on the alliances. The drengin and torian were allied to only one race. All other races were allied with two other races. Note that the only ones that weren't at war with everyone were the drengin and torian who were at war with everyone but their allies. Once a single war was declared their allies would be dragged into war. And since you were at war with someone your ally was allied with, you'd end up at war with your ally as well. (It makes sense to me anyway)

that must've been a fun game to play, i like the way (which Mumblefratz pointed out) that the Drengin are allied to the Terrans, Terrans to the Arceans, Arceans to the Thalans, Thalans to the Drath, and Drath to the Torians (the hip bone's connected to the...)

as an aside, i can't get races to ally with me no matter what i do, no matter what race, ethical alignment, and TOV managed to ally with the DRENGINS of all people lol i dont get it