Why Do Ships Set to Intercept Target Stations?

[Caribou89]

Maybe I'm not understanding the Behaviours very well, but I thought Intercept meant to only target S and M ships, and ignore Capitals and Stations. So why then are my corvettes and fighters targeting stations? I just want them to escort and protect my Destroyers and Battleships, without flying off on suicide missions.

[LameFox]

I think they react if attacked. Have seen some of my interceptors end up attacking capitals for that reason. It's probably worst in high attention since a station launching drones could lure them in.

[GCU Grey Area]

Interception range is limited by radar range of the command ship, usually 40km unless it's been modified. Consequently I keep my carriers around 50km away from hostile stations, directly behind my destroyers, which are usually at around 10km from the station (i.e. optimal range for their main guns). These positions means the carrier's interceptors are close enough to provide cover for the destroyers against S/M fighters & station drones, while still being far enough away that they don't usually get lured in as soon as the station launches defence drones & blown to bits by station turrets.

My fleet command ships run the Protect Position behaviour pretty much constantly. To estimate where 50km is I expand the radius of the Protect Position zone to 40km & position it so there's approximately a 1/4 radius gap (i.e. about 10km) between the edge of the zone & nearest part of the station. After I've estimated distances & ordered my ships to move into their respective positions I shrink the carrier's Protect Position zone down to around 5km so it can't wander too much, but will still respond if hostiles approach.

[zakaluka]

usually it's default responses. If you have them on default response "retaliate" or "use judgement" when "attacked". Change to "ignore" and try again.