I don't know where you're getting the "remove troops to make em happy" thing:
quote:
Our Troops on Planet := -2
Enemy Troops on Planet := 150
Natural Decrease for Other Races := 20
That's a -2 to the ANGER rating. So the people become happier.
The problem is that your pop is probably at the maximum anger level (+200), and rioting starts at +75.
You need at least 10 troops just to keep the people from getting angrier.
50 additional troops should get your planet back to productivity in 4 turns or so.
Also, fighting as a peaceful race will hurt, and making peace as a bloodthirsty race will slow you down. Any enemy ships in the area will boost anger (
even if cloaked (at least until the next patch)).
Fill up the planets with troops, and stack ships on the best planets. Then wait a year.