Sounds like the improbability drive to me. It's highly improbable that 1M population will spontaneously appear when the colony ship lacks them, especially at a planet that isn't even colonizable by that race. And so of course, being nearly infinitely improbable, this event will occur whenever an improbability drive is activated at full power elsewhere in the universe! Lower improbability events such as Supernovae, completed road construction, remembering your parents' anniversary and world peace may also occur when shorter distances are traversed by said improbability drive.
I suggest that we have a gentlemans agreement to not abuse this game error. I trust y'all
[ September 18, 2003, 15:37: Message edited by: jimbob ]