How did star formation likely proceed in the protogalactic cloud forming the Milky Way?

The process of star formation in the protogalactic cloud that ultimately formed the Milky Way galaxy began with the gravitational collapse of regions within the gas and dust. During this early phase, the first generation of stars formed from the dense areas in the protogalactic cloud. These early stars did not have a defined structure, and as a consequence, their orbits around the center of the galaxy were not restricted to any specific plane or inclination.

This means that newly formed stars could indeed take on a variety of orbits, including those in different directions and at varying angles relative to a central axis. This behavior reflects the chaotic conditions prevalent in the early galaxy formation stage, where gravitational forces acted on gas clouds without the stabilizing influence of a developed galactic disk.

As star formation progressed, the structures and dynamics of the Milky Way evolved, leading to the formation of a disk where most stars now reside. The initial random orientations of orbits played a significant role in shaping the future dynamics of the galaxy as gravitational interactions gradually settled the stars into more stable paths.

In contrast, the first stars didn't all form in clusters or uniformly across the galaxy, as indicated by the other statements. The chaotic nature of the early gas clouds allowed for diverse