...Ohh, NO ! What Proportion Version do you play ? If it is more than 2.0, Soluk is a joke. PvK created it using Piundon race which is crystolline, but Soluk .emp has no Crystallurgy !
It will eventually kill them because of research and ship design. To salvage you game, back up all Piundon AI files and replace them with files copied from any other race without racial traits, for example Terrans.
Good luck, I' looking forward the next chapter.