This random event occurs in:
at a distress beacon. The Long-Ranged Scanners will detect 
no ship presence. This event can occur multiple times per sector.
You have encountered a refugee ship drifting in space. It looks as if it was fleeing the Rebel advance and ran out of fuel. Its distress beacon is active, but you're not sure anyone is on board.
- Hail them.
- The vessel is relieved to hear from you! They are running low on supplies. They suggest a trade.
- Trade with them. [ the actual trade offer is shown prior to making the choice ]
- You lose
1-2 and receive 
5-10. - You lose
1-2 and receive 4-5. - You lose 2-3 and receive 2-3.
- You lose 2-4 and receive 4-10.
- You lose
- Politely decline.
- Nothing happens.
- Trade with them. [ the actual trade offer is shown prior to making the choice ]
- As you hail the refugee ship, a Zoltan ship suddenly jumps into the system... it claims the refugees are criminals, and accuses you of escorting fugitives! Before you can respond, it cuts communications, and powers up its weapons!
- Fight a Zoltan ship. (enemy ship doesn't surrender nor tries to escape)
- (After destroying enemy ship) The Zoltan ship breaks apart and you salvage what you can.
- You receive medium scrap with resources.
- Contact the refugee ship.
- The refugee ship thanks you for your assistance. As a gesture of good will (and seeing how effectively you dispatched the enemy ship), they offer up what supplies they can spare.
- You receive low scrap with resources.
- The refugee ship thanks you for your assistance. As a gesture of good will (and seeing how effectively you dispatched the enemy ship), they offer up what supplies they can spare.
- Contact the refugee ship.
- You receive medium scrap with resources.
- (After killing enemy crew) The Zoltan ship, now empty of lifeforms, provides easy salvage.
- You receive high scrap with resources.
- Contact the refugee ship.
- The refugee ship thanks you for your assistance. As a gesture of good will (and seeing how effectively you dispatched the enemy ship), they offer up what supplies they can spare.
- You receive low scrap with resources.
- The refugee ship thanks you for your assistance. As a gesture of good will (and seeing how effectively you dispatched the enemy ship), they offer up what supplies they can spare.
- Contact the refugee ship.
- You receive high scrap with resources.
- (After destroying enemy ship) The Zoltan ship breaks apart and you salvage what you can.
- Fight a Zoltan ship. (enemy ship doesn't surrender nor tries to escape)
- The vessel is relieved to hear from you! They are running low on supplies. They suggest a trade.
- Ignore the refugees.
- Nothing happens.
Trivia[]
This event is called "REFUGEE_DISTRESS_ZOLTAN" in the datafiles.