It was part of several suggested locations, but I hadn't tried finalizing it. I can select it but then when I try to choose the fed tile an error message pops up "8B4 can't be part of a new federation". All good then. Thanks for the reply.

There was a thread (https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2481347/which-setup-better-lantids-terrans/page/2) on board game geek about the Lantids explaining how to make sure no one gets saddled with a trash pick in an auction. Basically the idea is that instead of choosing all the factions first and then bidding, the first player chooses a faction with a bid (can be 0), then the second player can either outbid the first for that faction or choose another faction. So the person who intentionally chooses a bad faction will be forced to play them, because no one will outbid them and they won't be able to switch. I think this would solve the issues raised above.

During the gaia phase of the last round of this game : https://www.boardgamers.space/game/Gray-drink-44, I inadvertently clicked on the button to choose a tech tile with my PI ability. The 4 power token were immediately discarded, there was no way to go back, even though no tech tile was pickable (I already had the 9 basic and no advanced was available to me). In that situation, the choice should not be offered, Itars cannot discard without choosing a tech tile.