"Almost every fleet has 70 ships or more."
Yeah, but not 70 Expendables...just 70 or more ships of one kind or another.
"I expect if I can support that many ships I must have quite the installed research base. hmmmm...."
Not sure about the research base (since it doesn't have much to do with maintaining ships) but you must have plenty of resources...
"BTW: What's up with that Suicide Captain. Do all of your scouts go around attacking a fleet of 70 ships?????!!! What did he do at the imperial court to draw that mission?? Was he caught messing with the admerals daughter?"
Captain Hapless's twin lesbian sister. She wanted a sex change operation so she could be just like him but was turned down. Then, it seems, she decided to go out in glory like her brother did.