Every Pirate Base has 19 defense platforms divided into 3-4 tightly knit groups around it. These are functionally identical to TEC Gauss Defense Platforms but visually distinctive, with spikes, glowing green lights, and a pirate holographic "flag" on the bottom. Destroying one group is all that is usually nessesary to bomb the planet, and once the planet is gone the platforms become inoperative, either sitting ducks for you or a chore for one of your enemies.