Here is some advice lass.
Always set up your trade routs to be over an hour, this way you will not build up danger rating, and therefore can not be attacked.
Upgrading merchant ships is optional past the first five points they come with, but any war fleet needs to have its ships near max level for competitive play.
Never attack a fleet of ships that has larger/more upgraded ships than yours, unless you have maxed out ships and theirs aren't.
Hope these help ya get your footing.

Captain Jack wrote:For some strange reason they prefer throwing bubbles rather than sinking ships.
Girls are weird.