Fielding an idea
I was testing out the use of a mission controlled fleet to have the effect of a fleet retreating / becoming disoriented when it's flagship is destroyed.
What I used:
2 mďsn's
1 extra shďp variant of a selected warship (plus shän), but altered to "Scoop Asteroid Bits," and No (0) Planet weapons.
When a ship has the "Scoop Bits" behavior set it becomes annoyingly pacifistic, reverting to a wimpy trader's A.I. despite what you set for the inherent A.I. However, if used as a special ship with a behavior to "Attack enemy spöbs," and lacking the means to attack spöbs, the mission behavior will override the ship's natural behavior; and since it can't attack planets, it will attack enemy ships instead.
The first mission summons and names the "Flagship," and sets its goal to destroy it. In the OnShipDone field, the abort command is given for the second mission. The second mission summons a number of the described ships, and tells them to attack Spöbs.
When the "Flagship" is destroyed, the second mission is aborted, and these "Warships" will revert to their inherently cowardly behavior. After that, a once vicious fight becomes a whole lot easier.
I think this would make for a very interesting way to turn the tide of a battle in-flight.