alright this idea is based for planet protection by hiring mercs to protect your planet.

say for example i got a terra planet i want guarded for me without myself or a teamate worrying much about it.
well look no more, how bout when you click on your planet theres a tab that allows you to select NPC ships to guard you planet for you, limit one per planet.
these ships vary from Drannik Replicator XI, Sha'din Corsair XXVI, or something elselike that, the higher the level and more powerful they are the more they cost in upkeep.
say the drannik is worth 2 mil in upkeep and the other is 1mil upkeep, the merc ships become killable the moment the planet population reaches 10 or lower aka invadeable.