[raynor]

However, if someone CAN find a legal, ethical method of changing the current game code to allow what I want to do, please let me know.

It is going to be extremely, extremely difficult to modify the existing game code. Without access to the Object Pascal (I believe) source code, you are left with disassembling the executable into assembly language. There are lots of people who can write programs in third and fourth generation Languages such as Pascal, C/C++, Java etc. The number grows much smaller when you talk about people of Aaron's caliber. The number grows smaller still, when you talk about the number of people who have the ability to disassemble a working program and try to insert in their own code to do various things.

Instead, I would suggest taking Baron Munchausen's excellent advice and look out on SourceForge.Net for an OpenSource effort to create a 4X game set in space. I just did a quick search and found one that looked promising.

Universe

A multiplayer turn based space strategy game similar to Masters of Orion. Written in Java, we are striving for a platform independent game. GPL'd source allows anyone to play for free!