In my current game since the Torians had a military equal to my own and a huge domain I decided it was safer to assimilate them that fight a costly war with them. It came down to me having almost half the map and the other races paying me tributes (always a good sign that they won't attack me) and the Torians being smothered to death in my influence.

Then I got the random event that the Torian Leader had been killed and they blamed me and the new leader delared war on me. No problem....every planet of mine had at least 1 Acorn Fighter in orbit and near the 3 remaining Torian planets I had fleets of Nut Busters, Nut Crackers, Nut Crushers and the dreaded Nut Pulverizer Battleships. (yes I play as a Squirrel. lol)

So I thought "hah" that will just make your death more swift. Then I see the mini map and their were 100-200 ships spread all over the entire galaxy. I think it had said something about pirates or privateers or something. I was worried that they could kill all my trade routes and wipe out all my planets defensive ships all at the same time and maybe even wear down my war fleet.

Has anyone ever encountered this as well? What can they do? I paid 15,000 bc to end the war and then all the tiny ships flew off the side of the map like going down a drain over many turns.