How to get rid of "poachers"?

[dereck]

Here's the situation:

Another empire had a mining station in a system that I ended up colonizing a different planet in.

Even though I now control the system their mining station is still there. Is there anyway (short of me colonizing the planet) to remove the other empire's mining stations?

Thanks.

[Retreat1970]

Blow it up by ship or intelligence agent. Trade for it. Hire pirates to blow it up. Ignore it.

[RogerBacon]

On a related note, is there any way to stop independent mining ships or gas miners from mining your planets? I've always assumed if I attacked one that no independent ship would trade with me again.

[SirHoraceHarkness]

Take a single ship and blow it up. The offended empire will ask you to stop attacking them and come to blow up the ship you used to blow up their mine and that will be the end of it as the diplomatic hit is trivial. It might make a difference if you are very close to war but if that was the case something will happen to cross the line anyways if you use any level of automation.

[dereck]

I should also say that it's a mining site by the Ancient Guardians, with a cruiser protecting it because it is for Zentabia Fluid.

[Retreat1970]

re-read post 2. Only option now is a spy.