Before launching a fleet, you must assign it a task to accomplish. A task assigned to a fleet is referred to as a Mission. Every mission has a start time, arrival time, and return time. The start time is determined by the player when he launches the fleet. The arrival time (and usually the return time) is automatically calculated by the speed of the slowest type of ship in the fleet, and the distance between the origin and destination.
To raid another player or to crash any fleet stationed at the target. The fleet will carry out the attack and, if any ships survive, will return to its point of origin, ending the mission (also see Combat). A report generated in the Battle Reports folder on the Messages screen when the battle is over; if the fleet returns, a report will be generated in the Transportation Reports folder.
To station the fleet at another planet (you can only deploy ships to one of your own planets or moons). A deploy mission can also carry resources, delivering them to the destination. The fleet will remain at the destination, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Transportation Reports folder on the Messages screen.
To spy another player’s planet. There must be Espionage Probes in the fleet for this option to be available. The fleet will arrive at the target, instantly gather intelligence and transmit a spy report back to the player and, if any ships survive, return to its point of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Spy Reports folder on the Messages screen.
To send resources from one planet to another. The fleet will deliver its resources to the target, then return to its point of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Transportation Reports folder on the Messages screen.
To send a Colony Ship to an empty planet slot and establish a new colony. A colony ship must be present in the fleet to select this mission. The colony ship will be dismantled upon reaching its destination to provide some resources for the new colony to begin construction. Any resources it carried will be deposited on the new colony, ending the mission. If, upon arrival, there is already a planet at the destination, the mission will fail, and the Colony Ship will return to it’s point of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Transportation Reports folder on the Messages screen.
Hint: A Colonize mission was not designed to allow additional ships to accompany it with resources to start a new colony. While some players do successfully send additional ships on a Colonize mission, sometimes these additional ships and their cargo may DISAPPEAR when the new planet is settled. This is rare, and almost unheard of if the colonize mission fails and returns home, but it CAN happen. Therefore, SENDING ADDITIONAL SHIPS ON A COLONIZE MISSION IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
To collect resources from a Debris Field. At least one Recycler must be in the fleet to select this mission. The fleet will travel to the debris field, gather all resources it can based on its cargo capacity, and return to its point of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Recycling Reports folder on the Messages screen.
To send Deathstars to destroy a moon. The fleet will arrive at the target moon, and attempt to destroy it. If any ships survive, they will return to the point of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Battle Reports folder on the Messages screen.
To send a fleet to another planet with a group of other players to attack one player. For this option to be available, you must be either invited to join an existing ACS attack or already have another fleet attacking the planet. The combined attack fleet will arrive at the target, carry out the attack, and any surviving ships will return to their individual points of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Battle Reports folder on the Messages screen (see also Combat).
To send a fleet to another planet to remain for a limited period of time, and then return. The length of time the fleet remains at the target (the “Hold Time”), is selected at the beginning of the mission. Once the fleet arrives at the target, it cannot be recalled - it will remain there until the selected hold time expires. During this time, the fleet will defend the planet against any other ships that may attack. During this time the fleet is also vulnerable to espionage (Spy missions) and attack. When the pre-selected hold time expires, the fleet will return to its point of origin, ending the mission. A report will be generated in the Transportation folder on the Messages screen.