Pretty confused in first game...

[shadow9d9]

So, in my first game, the Evucks took over a total of 4 planets(including their own).  This leaves 4 others planets.  I have been repelling their constant attacks against another planet, while researching heavily and donating the new technology(military/defense) to the 4 non fear empire planets.  I have tried repelling them completely and aiding the defending planet in building armadas.  It does not seem to stop the attacking armies from non stop coming.  I guess I just don't understand what to do now.  I have all the tech that I can get for the hydra.  I have researched nearly everything with another planet(which has 4=5 outposts now).  How do I get the fear empire to stop constantly attacking?

Additionally, the planet being attacked, despite having now 34 attacking armadas, decided to send off 5 of their own to attack another planet.  It makes no sense.  How do I get the remaining 4 planets to work together?  It seems like I have no way of affecting them aside from researching and gifting technology. 

I really don't seem to understand this game.  The interaction with planets/races are super limited.  Aside from helping out planets in need, I am at a stand still.

And I cannot get the fear empire to stop attacking this planet no matter how much tech I give them, how many times I fight off the attackers, or how many times I try to help them create armadas.  Help!

[Valguris]

I'd ruin their economy RCI. Either use Acutians special option for that or do it myself via hostile dispatch missions. Negative economy on any planet decreases shipbuilding speed for entire race.
I don't know why Evucks keep popping more and more armadas while other races don't. Perhaps they have pretty good economic RCI while other races pretty bad. Are you donating manufacturing techs as well?
If 4 races outside Fear Empire are fighting, you can often broker a truce via political deals. If you had enough influence over Evucks (you probably don't, since you were destroying their armadas) you would be able to tell Evucks to stop attacking, despite Fear Empire.

[shadow9d9]

I haven't found a way to even steal research, let alone hostile dispatch missions.  Where can I find these options?

[Mick]

You need to use a hostile action to place an informant.

[shadow9d9]

Is there a guide on how to do such a thing?

[Misery]

It's just in the "hostile actions" list for whatever planet you're on.  Listed as "Criminal Activity: Recruit informant".  You need to do this before certain other actions will appear on that list.

Note that this does not work on the Andors or the Thoraxians.  The informant option wont even appear for them.

[Valguris]

You already did friendly actions.
Go to a planet. You have 4 buttons on your interface there:
-Planet Stats
-Friendly Actions (you were alraedy doing them)
-Hostile Actions
-Political Deals.

Just go to Hostile Actions and look for Undermine Local Economy. You don't need informant for this type of activity.

[shadow9d9]

I spent the whole game without realizing/seeing the hostile actions/political screen.  Time to start over.

Does it make sense to have each group get different resources so they could trade?

How do you take over space stations?

How do you see how many moons a civ has colonized?

[steelwing]

I spent the whole game without realizing/seeing the hostile actions/political screen.  Time to start over.

Does it make sense to have each group get different resources so they could trade?

How do you take over space stations?

How do you see how many moons a civ has colonized?

Moons are listed in planet details (I think).
If by "space stations" you mean outposts, you visit the outpost you want and select its hostile actions button.  Then you execute "Capture Space Station".  Make sure you're OK w/ losing 30-40 influence with the owning race.
Keep in mind, there's only five minerals (maybe six) out there.  You can look at what each race's balance of those is, and you can help by mining uncolonized moons for them.  If you're going to try to get races into extensive trading, you'll also have to watch out for those races whose actions depend on their government's current mindset.  The Andors, for example, won't make trade deals without certain parties being in power, the Skylaxians need to have a certain percentage of the Senate pro-trade, and the Boarines' Regent (or the Thoraxian Hive Queen) has to be thinking trade-ish thoughts.  You can bribe everyone on that previous list except the Andors, but your bribes won't necessarily buy you a pro-trade government in every case.

[Mick]

Moons are listed in planet details, but if you have the tutorial enabled, it can take a while to show up there.