On closer examination and investigation, I think my starship issues are/were probably actually raid engine issues.
Yes, a Raid Engine, especially on a high mark world, is about the only thing in the game that I treat as an at any-costs target.
My current game had a Raid Engine 2 hops out from my homeworld on a Mk IV world. The very first attack I made was a transport with a cap of Mk I Fighters, Bombers and Flagships on a one-way trip to destroy it.
On a single HW start, that is a
lot of resources to throw away, but that is how dangerous I consider a Raid Engine.
As AIP was 10 when I triggered the single wave it sent at me, there was only a single Starship present so I did not have a lot of trouble fending it off.
For those wondering why I sent so much in, the Guard Posts in the Mk IV system were positioned so that the Transport would not survive to deliver my ships to the Raid Engine, I sent the Flagships along to kill the Raid Engine and the Fighters/Bombers were there to keep the Flagships alive long enough to do so.
D.