Explosive Conflict is an operation and as preferred status I can't play those anyways. can I?

I'm a preferred status and DO NOT have the expansion, maybe in the future but not viable now. I want better armor but don't know where to go, was doing the black hole missions but not sure of my commendations. I've been told flashpoints but what flashpoints? Can anyone help me narrow it down, the net isn't exactly helpful for that stuff and There is almost never anyone in my guild when I am online. Please somewhere to start that doesn't involve operations or the expansion. Thanks in advance.

level 50 Marauder, no expansion, looking to gear up and do operations dailies, weeklies, specifically looking for blackhole, hazmat and eventually Rakata gear EST player active during day hours, and weekends, very little week nights.

Level 50 DPS Sith Marauder. no expansion. Need groups to join in to get better gear like Black hole and Hazmat. Primarily active during day in EST any guilds out there care to have me join! I have a jedi consular too but only level 16 I think

64 planetary commendations and no I do not have the expansion

Sorry there is info everywhere but not where to start? can someone point me in a starting place I want to get the best gear for my Sith Marauder but have no idea where to start. I just got to level 50 and want to go further