[dogscoff]

If you can manage to get a lone ship into enemy space, send a frigate / escort and hide in a storm sector. Drop a LR-scanner satellite if you don't want to leave a whole ship in there (or if the AI sees you go in and comes in after you.)

Once you have a watchful eye on the enemy use the "ship bomb" intel project to target his minesweepers. He might have counter intel running but keep plugging away - up your intel production and run as many identical projects as you can complete in one turn. You might yet stand a chance=-)

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There is an exception to every rule. Including this one.