Dealing with these bastards requires a specific fleet theme. Ballistic-oriented fleets with medium-high armor and either fast speed or sprint get-in-your-face capability are just the ticket. Do NOT attempt to get in a flux war with them; they will outflux you handily. Instead, charge them and pin them down; once you get the shield out of the way, they will go down surprisingly fast.
This is only my second Starsector game, first with the nex mod and few others I installed to go with it. I am still somewhat overwhelmed by the number and complexity of the weapons systems and loadout choices so I'm not sure I fully understand your comment. Seems likee a good time to learn more a bout it. Do you mean something like I need a fleet with:
* a preponderance of anti-shield weapons (of which kinetics are usually good examples)
* fast ships or ones with "charge capability" (meaning many cruisers/destroyers are favoured over fewer slow battle ships and carriers)
I have 70m Cr in the bank and 750k production per month in my colonies and a fair few ship blueprints the "best" of which appear to be:
Capitals: Astral, Zenelograd, conquest
Cruisers: Baikal, Apogee, Knight, Dominator
Destroyers: Tereshkova, Medusa, Tunguska, Scorpion
I can buy any number of premium Blackrock ships too, I already own several including four each of their main battleships and carriers. I have several high end 200% armour ballistic blueprints (Ferrocannon, Gauss cannon, Gale battery, whistler jetfire, dual shard cannon etc) which I can mass produce.
I am unsure what do about carriers/fighters. Should I:
* leave carriers out of it altogether and rely on on PD against these blighter's fighter swarms
* go for anti-shield bombers
* or go for anti-fighter fighters.