[Alneyan]

The Meson BLasters have the same range as the Phased Polaron Beams (range 6), and they deal roughly the same amount of damage per kt at range 6. (A slight advantage for the PPB if memory serves, but it is more expensive as well)

They will hit more often than most other weapons because they take less space, and so you will be able to put more of them on a single ship. For instance, you could have three Meson BLasters for the same space as two PPB, meaning you would have three attacks instead of two. But you will do less damage per hit than with the PPBs.

As for troop transports, they should run away when no planet is present, unless you give them a weapon to keep them with the fleet. Otherwise, if there is indeed a planet and you ordered them to capture this planet, they will drop their troops *unless* there are weapon platforms on the planet and weapons able to take down these platforms in the fleet. So the troop transports will NOT make a run for the planet if there is even a DUC I in the fleet, while they would do so if they are on their own, even against one thousand Massive mounted Wave Motion Guns.

However, I have found that a blockading strategy is tough to set up, since the ships are wont to "run away" towards the planet, runing the purpose of this strategy. Is there any way to order a warship to blockade a given planet, without altering its ship orders?

Lastly, Robotoid Factory III and System Robotoid Factory should stack, although they may not be displayed on the planet information screen. (It is the case for the second one if memory serves right) The "specialized" similar facilities aren't exactly useful because they do not stack, and given the hefty cost to research these system wide facilities, you should remain away from them. (Unless you happen to be playing a full tech game, and have some facility slots to use)