I am having a similar problem.
I have gotten stuck in a cycle of three 60 and one 15 second updates. In SM mode I see the following event updates:
Incement length adjusted as a ship is within firing range
Increment length adjusted due to imminent action. This may involve two NPR:s fighting
If I swith to "combat" view in the event window:
Beshaba 001 - Anti-Fighter Trackng System targeting Houjian 093 at 60k km
Size 32 Plasma Torpedo (x12) reloading. 135 seconds until next missile launch.
and also, each fourth update:
Size 32 Plasma torpedo (x12) has launched a Torp 32. Reload time: 195 seconds.
When I left the game on for a couple of hours once, the cycle changed into 120 seconds turns after a while. Had to ctrl-alt-del the game to stop the automation, but then I could play normally.. for 2 more days, then it started again and know it doesnt seem to go away.
I am only using SM mode, do not have any password for Designer mode. I really not want to abandon this game, is there some way to solve it? I read here:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2348&p=23794&hilit=NPR+action+stuck#p23794that you can delete the involved NPR fleets in designer mode. I have mailed steve about this but nt received any answer. I am stuck..
On a side note: When I check automated turns and the click 20 min time advance, the automated turns does not stop after 20 min. It seems to go on forever. Is this a bug?