It sounds like to me is that the Path.txt is not working correctly. I recomend that you use the Mod Launcher and then REFRESH it, and load the AST mod using it.
To verify that your PATH text is correct, open it with note pad and see if it is directed to AST or NONE. If it is NONE, change it to AST, then start the game.
Additionally try this: Verify that all of the EMP files for each race (8472, Borg, Breen, Cardassian, Federation, Ferengi, Klingon, and Romulan 2, 3, 5k are all in the AST/Empires folder.
Second, make sure you are using the latest Version of the ASTmod (1.4) With 1.4 the EMP files changed. The old EMP files will no longer work.
If you must, delete all the emp files in the AST/Empires folder and then place the 1.4 EMP files for each race into the AST/Empire folder.
The mod was set up to do this automatically, but things do error. When stating SEIV, Go to the Players Tab and click USE EXSISTING. This will open the EMPIRE FOLDER. From there you should be able to select the Star Trek EMP files. Remember that they are catagorized by name and racial points. (2k 3k 5k) If you attempt to use a 5k emp file with 2k racial points selected, it will not work.
(NOTE
Also to avoid the missing planet problem, be sure to rename all of the NewPlanet, NewFacility, NewComponent.bmp's to Planet, Facility and Component.
If your still having problems trying to load the EMP files, delete the AST mod completely.
Then reinstall it.
Let me know if any of these worked.
[ January 16, 2003, 07:31: Message edited by: Atrocities ]