Originally, I found a planet that was surprisingly Earth-like. Sent in a team to confirm my expectations - An NPR. Relations started out fine and I left the area lest I anger them. Some months later communications failed and I started amping my military to grind them into the ground1. The strange thing is. . . after I'd crushed their military, bombarded their ground defenses into nothing and took out their orbital things2 they became suddenly quite friendly towards me. Their diplomatic rating is above 300 and climbing. I've yet to invade, though I do have an empty colony on planet to land troops at.
What's with this NPR? Shouldn't it theoretically be seething with rage or have they surrendered and not told me about it?
1: First time I've actually failed the communicate with one
2: I've no other term for them, they have very short range weapons, are immobile and have a decent CIWS. I think they're stations but they're tiny if so.