Needed!Freighter protection through starbase module upgrade.
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Stardock Forums
I think an easy way to implement protection for the freighters would be to have an escort module upgrade for your starbases.As the freighter passed through the section it would be (escorted),ie rieceve defense bonus points high enough to keep it alive until you could bring some offensive forces to bear.Could also have an upgrade where escort lasted for certain number of sectors around the starbase.The whole idea is to give your freighters at least some fighting chance of survivalThis would be totally astracted and involve no extra ships.