Maybe if you could only check allies/enemies who you've met, using the system that checks for the visible opinion modifier? IIRC the stars/plusses/minuses only show up for allies/enemies that you've met... (Or maybe looking at unmet allies and enemies could use something like the mostly-white image that shows for Ethexae or Muistis before you've met them, and just have text that's "Name, Planet, Sector" with it?)