Hello,

I'm playing the small 1v1 single-player map against the AI (easy).  I have no problem building a working economy, fending off the pirates and up-modding my military/civ to high levels.  Then...I ran into a problem. 

I met my enemy a few times (scattered ships) that I easily destroyed, but then I discovered their homeworld.  Lots and lots (and lots) of ships that then came after me.  At least 3 huge fleets--each with several large ships and dozens of frigates.  My problem is that in comparison to this onslaught my maximum build limitation seemed puny indeed.  I could only build at most 1 capital ship, maybe 4 or 5 heavy cruisers, and a couple of frigates.  All of my ships together would get torn to shreds by just one of the enemy's fleet--let alone the other two fleets rolling unopposed through my empire.

How is it the enemy seems to have such a high limit on their number of ships and I'm so constrained?  Is there a way to grow this limit during game play?

Another question--I managed to defeat the pirates.  I destroyed their ships through repeated waves of attacks then pounded their homeworld to death.  But then I couldn't colonize it--hostile culture it said.  But soon after my AI enemy colonized this rock, seeminly without trouble.  How did they do that?  Is it possible for me to colonize the pirate world?

Thanks!