A quick update, Tsagoth is moving on to implementing the new combat server side now that Zark and I have been able to do a ton of scenario testing offline and feel that the system is sound and the new numbers are looking pretty balanced. We'll also be implementing the extended time frame combat that Thoon suggested so each round of combat will take 30 minutes. During that delay you or other players will be able to send in reinforcements or pull their ships out of combat.

If a player orders all of their ships to retreat they're pulled out of combat immediately be the remaining fleets get a free round of attack on the departing ships as they leave. If a player has multiple ships / fleets in play and only orders some of them to leave the number of ships that may open fire on the fleeing fleet is reduced by the number of ships remaining in combat; This is done to simulate the effect of some ships staying behind to lay down a covering fire.