Ok, this has been baffling me for quite a while now. I'm attacking an alien to capture it's ship. It gets down to zero fighters, then suddenly there is a message that it has exploded into a fire ball. Now, keep in mind, this alien explodes all on it's own (not as a result of my firing at it). Here's is a capture of one such incident. Maybe you all can explain to me how and why it exploded


Command [TL=00:00:00]:[17224] (?=Help)? : A
<Attack>
Attack Nuje Koujuv's BattleShip (9,473-0) (Y/N) [N]? No
Attack Seshi Jouzeg's Horseman (9,473-191) (Y/N) [N]? Yes
How many fighters do you wish to use (0 to 9,473) [0]? 1

You lost 1 fighter(s), 9,472 remain.
Your Interdictor generator suddenly activates!
Seshi Jouzeg tried to warp out of the sector but failed!
You destroyed 0 enemy fighters, 191 remain.

Command [TL=00:00:00]:[17224] (?=Help)? :

Incoming transmission from Shipboard Computers:
The Interdictor Generator on Oveip Jogufer prevented Seshi Jouzeg from escaping
on 07/10/16 at 11:31:46 PM

Command [TL=00:00:00]:[17224] (?=Help)? :

a City ship is powering up weapons systems!

a City ship launches a wave of fighters at Uncle Pennybags

Incoming transmission from Shipboard Computers:
City Seshi Jouzeg destroyed 180 fighters.

Command [TL=00:00:00]:[17224] (?=Help)? : D
<Re-Display>

Sector : 17347 in Plumbers Space.
City : Infamous Pirate Nuje Koujuv, w/ 0 ftrs,
in Udien Riwaxid (Uncle Pennybags BattleShip)
Terrorist Seshi Jouzeg, w/ 0 ftrs,
in Iwueth Thoxipish (Uncle Pennybags Horseman)
Infamous Pirate Gajo Ziathiz, w/ 0 ftrs,
in Ereoch Hehuruv (Uncle Pennybags Car)
Warps to Sector(s) : 8433 - 9711

Command [TL=00:00:00]:[17224] (?=Help)? :

a City ship's ship just exploded into a brilliant fireball!
Command [TL=00:00:00]:[17224] (?=Help)? : A
<Attack>
Attack Nuje Koujuv's BattleShip (9,292-0) (Y/N) [N]? No
Attack Gajo Ziathiz's Car (9,292-0) (Y/N) [N]? Yes
How many fighters do you wish to use (0 to 9,292) [0]? 1
Your fighters encounter a powerful force-shield around the enemy ship!

You lost 1 fighter(s), 9,291 remain.

i have seen it many times as well. either the other aliens are capping it, or it is self destructing. either way it is very very annoying

Slim

Aliens can attack one another, so that's probably what's happening. From the cap, it looks like the ship attacks another alien, and almost all aliens will attack if attacked.