[Q]

That's what I observed with the gold demo Version:

1.) You never can recover drones no matter what type of game or combat.

2.) In turn based games you can use the "launch units" button in order to launch any desired number of drones.

3.) In tactical combat you can use the "launch unit" order to launch any desired number of drones.

4.) In strategical combat all drones are launched automatically.

5.) In simultaneous games you have only the "launch units remotely" button, where you cannot specify the number of units you want to launch. Therefore all units are launched.

6.) You can give drones only an attack order against enemy ships and colonies you see.

7.) If the primary target of the drones is destroyed or disappears you can give a new attack order to the drones.

8.) Drones are only automatically self destroyed if they run out of supplies.