Ok, I'll try to see if putting another component in between will do what you want. I thought it was just the family that determined that, though. Even if it works though, it would break existing games that had gotten that far in the tech tree, shuffling existing components to something different.
Heh, it's interesting it gives a "use facility" button! I didn't know SE4 even had one (too bad it isn't used for anything ... or is it?). If you use it does it resupply your ships immediately?
PvK