Captive Human Settlements

[Fleet]

I was under the impression that captive human settlements were under the control / supervision of the AI. Hence, the "captive" part. With the rebellion option turned on, then I get a message saying they will uncloak in some duration of time and after that, the AI will surely destroy them. So, in the first case, the AI is aware of the human presence, whereas in the second the AI seems unaware. Either that, or in the second case the AI were aware of the colonies existence, but not their plan of resistance, so it makes sense they would destroy them after a surprise resistance. Can someone clear this up for me? Thanks.

[x4000]

These are two different phenomena: Captive Human Settlements are passive human colonies that are under AI control.  These are always floating around planets, bubble-like prison cells.  Rebelling Human Colonies are previously-passive human colonies from the surface of planets, which have overthrown the AI on the planet and escaped into space, only to... run out of gas, essentially, and just hover in orbit hoping someone hears their distress call and comes to help before their invisibility cloak runs out.  In their case, the AI may know they are there or might not, but they are completely invisible and thus there is nothing the AI can do until they decloak -- at which time the AI will start trying to kill them.  The rebels don't immediately die when the timer runs out, but that's the point at which they are then vulnerable to the AI coming after them.

[Buttons840]

I love these things from a gameplay perspective.  You must capture and hold the planet for the rest of the game or face a 100 point AIP increase.

[HellishFiend]

I love these things from a gameplay perspective.  You must capture and hold the planet for the rest of the game or face a 100 point AIP increase.

I love them for the long range missile frigates. If it weren't for those, I'd be inclined to turn them off in the lobby. The fighter/bombers seem to not be worth the effort or the energy it takes to use them.