Ah, I guess I didn't read the "partnered" in your post
I'm pretty sure combat can have more than one side, however (Combat Simulator has 10, after all). It would be a really wierd situation if three -- or more -- sides that are all at war with each other go into combat, and are basically put on teams!
Like Q said, try to recreate the situation. Even better, have a beta tester do it for Gold.
Oh, and you should probably gift the planet back
--edit: #%@! sig...
[ 31 December 2001: Message edited by: Will ]