Hey there,
I just encountered that great game, and of course I'm still a little newbie

Though while I still play on beginners mode I have a problem with that mission. I read in two other threads that people have problems getting their spies on Dithis because the enemy doesn't build, and they can play forever waiting for it.
Now, here comes me, finally a mission where I can greatly expand (6 Planets and lots of asteroid at the start, woooo !

).
But I already started the mission now 5 times, and always after 100 or 150 turns I'm getting this :
http://wcsaga.hard-light.net/team/Starman/pics/galciv2.jpg
So what the f... is going on ? I don't even have any spies yet, I cannot even reach the far end of the map to find Dithis, and my only ships (1 Spaceminer, two explorer and one survayer) are not involved in any battles, I'm also not getting attacked anywhere....
So what have I made wrong ?
Thanks for helping me out.
B/R
Starman