[geoschmo]

I suppose the easiest way to deal with this is to give the "seed ship" stealth ability, and no sensors. Then noone can attack you, cause they can't see you. This will also lend an element of mystery, since you will not know where the other empires are until they plant roots somewhere. This could be very interesting, cause you could find a planet you like, drop ship, and find out someone else established in the same system on the same turn. Also would add more of the risk reward equation to how long do you stay in the seed ship?

Geoschmo