Axcentor

Of course, that varies very much, because it depends on the mapsize and how many colonies I have,but in early game I usually build 1-3 small/medium sized ships to protect my planets (but at least one per planet) plus an attack force of lets say six fleets. But you said late mid-game, so at that time I usually have a new attack force with better hulls etc. ant have the older ships protect my empire. In numbers: I'd say about a hundred all together, b

Well, I think the moral doesn't matter in any way. It's just like when you produce four times the influence, then the chance is always 25 % that the planet will flip to your side. So, in theory you should get the planet after four turns (but of course that won't always happen).