[Jmenschenfresser]

I had the same experience with the Aquiliaens, those militaristic bastards. Game is still saved on my HD somewhere, and I do plan to finish it. High bonus, high difficulty, oversized galaxy, and 20 full races. I've incorporated the Star Trek races into the TDM, so I have a crap load to pick from.

The Aquiliaens swooped in from the east and easily beat me back out of two systems. Made a stand and stopped several 15+ fleets. I own three systems and who borders these systems you may ask? The Aquiliaens, a super agressive Klingon AI, and the Rage. All three much larger than I am, with no where to hide. For some unknown reason the Rage are friendly...for now.

This is absolutely the hardest damn game yet for me. I reclaimed half of one of the systems I lost to the Aquilieans before my fleet is so battered it can't fly straight. Then I learn that the Aquilieans have cloaked ships, and I don't have any sensors. The few ships I left defending the WP leading back into the three systems I do control get hit by a large cloaked fleet. I scramble everything to meet them. All ships return from the half conquered system. I lose everything, but their fleet is no longer in fighting condition, so it leaves. Then within a few turns, a different fleet bLasts the few new colonies I'd established. ****, they hadn't even built one facility.

The only way I am going to beat back one of these empires is to either catch them with their pants down or pray a larger fish comes along and diverts their attention.