Well, the entire world pushed BME into making close allies as the did. At one point, BME knew that xVx, CPM, FTW and KILT were going to gun for them. At that time, they were outnumbered 4 to 1. They started buying time and collecting allies, and here is the result. KILT fell because no one came to their aid in time. xVx failed as an alliance due to internal issues and broke down. CPM decided to go after a different alliance instead (FTW) and FTW decided to change sides when they were attacked. You can say it was luck, because it partly was, but WE (as in all of the showdown alliances) turned BME into what it is now. We FORCED their hand and then didn't follow through, leaving BME fully intact with new, better allies.
And the ONLY thing BME got from xVx was me. The relic, they did NOT get free. I ended up killing nearly 150 units of BME before joining them. Got 2 members with a nuke. And doing extensive damage to their gate network in the southwest because nearly all of my nukes were still intact when they began their assault. They EARNED that relic they took from me. I recall CPM messaging me asking for my relic for free (to which I replied no, just as I did BME). I wasn't planning on guarding my relic per say, but anyone coming after me was fair play for my army in my opinion. I received invites from CPM, OC, BME, FTW, FF, and a random that I don't remember. So every single alliance took a shot to gain me. I choose BME of my own accord AFTER causing them a lot of hassle.
And as for the rest of xVx. Most of it fell apart and was taken via inner strife. Not BME. I don't even think BME conquered any xVx members. OC got Marix, Slinky and Flux. FF got Hunter and Kevin (until FF killed him). Madara tried to take Kitty's crystals, so I killed him. Kev took out Seaweed, so that means it all went to FF. Life is somehow still alive untouched. Nighthawk never did anything to help by this point as he was brand new. Make it with chu died to Snow. I went to get his stuff back, but then CPM started the war with BME before I Snow's shields dropped. Shadowcat had abandoned us to join BME, then things didn't work out for her and I ended up taking her spot. I don't know what happened to Iggy, but he also had nothing as he was constantly in and out of the alliance.
So no... BME did not get xVx Alliance. Just me. They took the relic by force because i prioritized killing BME units over protecting my relic because I didn't have an alliance at this point. You can ask Sims and Rania. I'm pretty sure both were surprised at the resistance I put up. I only joined because of a few of my own reasons.
I felt I owed Sims for his AMAZING amount of help on M2 3 eras ago in TWD when he was one of my most valued members in the era we won.
Rania was in the alliance and she is a friend of kitty's. Plus I was curious since I had yet to play with her.
EDIT:
I just got this on M2 and I find it hilarious.
I obviously do not deserve to win this era. And I must say, the one amazing thing about technology. You can call people. Something I've asked xVx to do a million and a half times when they needed me and something I've asked BME to stop doing a million and a half times
I am committing the same amount of activity to BME as I did xVx. The ONLY difference is that BME actually calls on me to get online to do things.