Does a base itself count as a "fleet"?

[colinthecorgi]

Let's say I have My Fleet #1 orbiting my home planet.
I have also assigned some ships to the base.

Then comes an attacking fleet X.

Would it be randomly determined now either

1. Fleet 1 vs Fleet X
2. Base vs Fleet X
or
1. Base vs Fleet X
2. Fleet 1 vs Fleet X

because the base counts as a fleet?

If yes, then what if i have no ships assigned to the base? Does the base still count as a fleet?
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Running the P since 2007

[zaphod]

each building counts as a class 4 ship. so if u have buildings (defence array, shipyard, research center, etc) your base will fight as a fleet. but unfortunately only the defence array will cause damage to the enemy.

[colinthecorgi]

Aah!

Yes, of course.
So basically, there is a randomness factor if say, 2 fleets attack a base with 2 additional fleets defending.

There would be 3 defender fleets and 2 attacker fleets, 6 combinations. These combinations can take place in _any_ order, if I understand the manual correctly, so 6+5+4+3+2=20 sequences are possible?
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Running the P since 2007

[zenachi]

yeah, a bunch of different sequences are possible, but the attacker may send his fleets in a certain order, so the sequence may not be that random.
Ex. attacker sends fleet 1 in first, and that fleet fights against the defender's fleets in random order, then the attacker's fleet 2 goes in and does the same.

As the defender, you can of course use your mothership and fly your fleets away from your base, then jump back in in the order you desire. So you become the "attacker." Of course you'll have to make sure your base isn't entirely defenceless, or you might lose it before you can take out your opponent's fleets.