Intelligence war

[rockman]

I am playing a TDM mod single player game of the original SEIV. I am currently fighting a 3 front war against the Romulans, Sergetti and the Drakol. I have a large number of Intelligence points (200k+) which I am using to steal enemy ships via crew insurection. Only problem is when I steal their ships I go broke cause I can't afford the maintenance (most of my colonies are intellingence or research) I usually lose them in combat to the enemy and get round the maintenence cost that way but what can I do - I need a big fleet to push the enemy back. virually all my planets are used and I can't expand except into enemy systems (for which i need a fleet). I don't want to scrap my intelligece or reseach facilities and buld mineral miners cause I need the intelligence to steal enemy ships. Anyone got any bright Ideas - the game seems to be at a bit of a stalemate at the moment?