Advanced Factory and Dyson Sphere

[orielis]

So I finally discover a system with an Advanced Factory in it and, as luck would have it, it is in the same system as the Dyson Sphere.

It seems obvious that I don't want to take the planet, but are there other options? Can this be hacked and, if so, what would I get from the hacking?

[Aklyon]

Yes indeed, it can be hacked! Adv. Starship Constructors can be as well, with very similar results.
As for the result of the hack: Last I checked you get the effect of the factory, as in you can build mark IV units. This effects lasts even if you lose the factory, since you aren't relying on the factory itself, you stole it capabilities from the AI.

The trick here though, is that you have to leave the station alive to do hacks, which means the dyson will be hostile to you while you hack in addition to the hacking response and anything else that comes in.

[Toranth]

The Dyson Sphere is only hostile to you if you currently have a Command Station in the system.  If you build one, capture the Advanced Factory, then immediately scrap your Command Station, the Dyson Sphere will be friendly again.  At the same time, you will still own the Factory, letting you build Mk IV units.

This can pose obvious difficulties in defending your shiny new Factory - no Command Station means no source of supply in that system.  So this is best done behind your lines, or adjacent to another of your systems.  If you don't feel confident in your ability to defend it, then hacking for 100 HaP is a better solution.

[Kahuna]

This can pose obvious difficulties in defending your shiny new Factory - no Command Station means no source of supply in that system.

If you own a planet next to that planet you can build a beachhead (whipping boy) to protect the AF.

[Draco18s]

Do note that if you capture the system, the hostile gatlings are not that tough and you can scrap your command station after it comes online. The factory will remain yours and with a friendly dyson sphere guarding it, it will be pretty safe.

I did that in a game a while back; before hacking.

I would still recommend that hacking route though.