Given current warp technology, that region of the galaxy was more than seventy years away at top speed.
"If they had warp technology, then why didn't they leave the planet?"
All work involving new warp technologies has to pass review.
Their level of warp technology was at least the equal of the Federation's.
After all, that's the way they handled "sharing" their warp technology with us for years.
Any clues in it about where they got their warp technology?
They had limited space travel within their own star system, and were experimenting with warp technology.
"You're saying these people are in the process of developing warp technology, but they don't plan to use it for space travel?"
"Why would one develop warp technology if not to move between worlds?"
"Isn't that why warp technology was invented, to make such travel possible?"