The barrel Icons on ships show fuel (supplies) warnings. The yellow barrel icon indicates less than 1000 supplies ("scraping the bottom of the barrel"
)
Red means you're totally outta supplies.
If your ships are showing no supplies as soon as you build 'em, check to see if they have engines. I've made more than my share of designs that lacked engines as I got carried away with shields and weapons
The red, crinkly 'tower' icon on a planet (sometimes confused with the red barrel) indicates that there is no spaceport in the system to get the research/intel/resources to you.
Fighting takes practice to master, but if you have a more focussed question (ie. how to fire guns, how to move etc) ask in the forum and you will get an answer within 24 hours.
This forum is your best source for SE4 help.
[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 04 May 2001).]