I'm the weakest race in the galaxy. I hadn't played in so long I think I had my priorities out of order. I have a good number of systems but my income isn't great, and I can't build up a significant size fleet. I do seem to be the only race in the galaxy with shields though.
Fortunately, I made an alliance early with what turns out to be the strongest race in the galaxy. The space dolphins. Who knew they would get along with space lizards.
I'm finally in a position where I can help my powerful allies. Worried that if I don't they'll break their alliance with me I send (to me) a large fleet of 6 Broadsword class Shielded attack cruisers a Dragon class shielded command ship and a few medic class repair vessels into a joint attack against our mutual enemies the space ....Zuul.
First round goes excellent. We are attacking from opposite sides of the planet. And while the Liir's large fleet combats the Zuul Defense fleet my fleet is wailing into the back side of the planet and the defense sats. My shields easily absorbed what damage was sent my ship's way and I had managed to halve the planetary population and take out all the satellite defenses.
Next round didn't go quite so well. Seems the Zuul Noticed me this time and decided to send all their defences against me instead of the Liir. "Oh, ok then I'll just play defensive, I'll rush by them and move towards the Liir fle- Holy hell is that a dreadnought!?"
Too late to turn my ships around, they fly straight into the Zull fleet of heavy beamers and dreads. The liir ships never even see me. All my shields that were the pride of my research department accomplished was make my ships live a salvo from the heavy beamers instead of blow up immediately.. I totally did not expect dreadnoughts this early into the game.
One turn later the Liir were also repelled from the system. And now the apperantly very powerful Zuul Probably see me as a threat.