I just had 3 alien ships show up right on top of a GeoSurvey ship I was using to probe a new system (I was using 6 hour increments, so my sensor range was pretty much moot). Here's the problem: my ship only has Thermal and EM sensors (no actives), which means that Aurora hasn't registered them as an alien race - their race doesn't show up on either the Diplomacy or Tactical Intelligence screen at all.
How am I suppose to start talking to them?
If scanning someone with active sensors is perceived as a hostile act, then I think we need another way to register the race associated with a thermal contact with the game. Perhaps having an "unknown" race in the diplomacy screen which, when picked, presents a pull-down of exactly with currently existing unknown contact you want to try to communicate with. Once communications are established, the race could be added to the diplomacy screen.
John
PS - I think this has been answered before, but I can't find the thread: how does "T480 S144/R75" break down? T is Thermal, I think S is Shields, and I have no clue what R is.