You can transfer all drones from the planet manually

Yes, you can. Transfer the drones off and when you have 2 or less, you can harvest it.

Not only that, but harvesting your own colonies is actually a very good strategy and something you should do - focusing your resources on develop your unimatrix and subcomplexes.

And how do you build a subcomplex? I can't figure out how to build them -- it won't let me for some reason? What is the cryteria and what is the different bewteen a subcomplex and a unimatrix?

Also -- Colony harvest -- so far all I can tell is that you need to find a uncolonized non technological planet because colony harvest must not have a colony in the system AND there has to be a planet to build on IE a non technological species you really only find early in the game.

trying to understand the Borg stuff more here.

Originally posted by Larzous:

And how do you build a subcomplex? I can't figure out how to build them -- it won't let me for some reason? What is the cryteria and what is the different bewteen a subcomplex and a unimatrix?

Also -- Colony harvest -- so far all I can tell is that you need to find a uncolonized non technological planet because colony harvest must not have a colony in the system AND there has to be a planet to build on IE a non technological species you really only find early in the game.

trying to understand the Borg stuff more here.

You need the right unity tree, the top left one. And one of the unlocks I think. After that you can build them!

And colony harvest works on every enemy planet. I just do it systematically with two patrol ships next to the construction ship so the planet doesn't build a spaceport and cancels the project.

I have the unity unlock but every time I try to build one its now showing as a viable option anywhere -- something about not being able to have any structures? So I need to basically claim new space and then without building or using any of the system resources build one?

Originally posted by Larzous:

I have the unity unlock but every time I try to build one its now showing as a viable option anywhere -- something about not being able to have any structures? So I need to basically claim new space and then without building or using any of the system resources build one?

It can't have a space port and needs to be inhabited by someone you're at war with, I think.

You don't have to be at war with them to use it, however after building it they often do declare war