I think you could get around the colony problem by starting the game with only colonize your home planet type and only colonize planet with breathable atmosphere. Then pick none as you atmoshpere. Rock as your type. This should yield a lot of moons for bases.
Any colony ships captured should have their cargo jettisoned in the true pirate fashion, walk the plank you scurvy bastards!
I'm gonna find the time top play this race I swear it
