Current Rules:
Only AIs start them.
They finish... somehow.
The player can join them, but won't be the target of them.
There is a countdown of 5 to 10 turns, then AI Saucers show up at some location.
The location of saucers is marked for 5 turns before they show up.
The player can invite other races to join, for a price.
Thoraxians, Spire, and Boarines don't get involved.
Burlusts don't defend.
I'd like to see this developed more. Specifically, the Player starts out as the new guy on the planet. No one thinks he is a real race, so he doesn't get involved in International Incidents (II). Until the player either A. Joins 1 or B. Gets to be X size. Once that happens he is fair game for everyone (i.e., he grew up and now is an adult). Additionally, giving the player the ability to build his own Saucers would be nice. Saucers would be produced by building X, which takes Y turns to charge. It can only be launched when an II starts. Once launched the player has little/some/complete control over the Saucers. This would be getting close to having units in the game.