Fleet Placement question

[ExSentinel]

Just a quick question. In a simaltaneous game there were three fleets in a given system. One fleet was there the entire turn and was defending the planet, another of that players fleets came into the system the same time that my fleet arrived.

At the opening of the combat sequence my fleet and the fleet that had been stationary the entire turn were interspersed around the planet and the opposing players other fleet that just arrived was off way in the distance.

Is there any reason the AI did not put my fleet further from the planet which is what normally happens? The only reason that I ask is that I had a missle heavy fleet, whereas his fleet was setup for a close in defense. Needless to say his fleet hosed mine even before his other fleet jumped in the fray.

Any thoughts?

[Fyron]

Unfortunately, the is how combat placement usually occurs in such situations.

[Xrati]

I've found if your fleet is cloaked you get a closer start to a planet then if you just attack uncloaked.