Ground Combat

• Ground combat can only be initiated once all enemy ships in a location have been destroyed or disabled. The factors contributing to the success of a ground mission are the number of troops deployed by each side and the relative combat experience of the troops.
  
  
• Derelict Ships/Starbases Ships that have been disabled may be seized and operated. Any enemy troops remaining on the disabled ship will fight, so you must use your own troops to take control of the ship.
  
  
• Planetary Garrisons You can leave troops on a planet's surface to defend it against attackers. You will probably find that every day, some of them desert the garrison in order to become colonists.
  
  
• Planetary Assaults In order to take control of a planet, you will have to seize control of its ground facilities. Your assaulting troops will engage the defending garrison.
  
  
• Xenocide Xenocide is a direct attack on alien colonists in an attempt to depopulate the planet. If successful, you would then be able to replace the alien colonists with colonists of your own race. Xenocide is not necessary for planetary occupation, as alien colonists will collect taxes and produce goods for you.
  Warning: If any of your troops are of the same race as the colonists being Xenocided, they will mutiny, either by refusing to attack or by defending the colonists.