Are you absolutely sure you've seen this on the PC version? I'm pretty sure you can't get this kind of view on the PC, as everything tends to be closer, and I'm also pretty sure you can't see the planetary paths in the normal view either (at least not to this extent). So if I were to hazard a guess at this point, I'd say it's some kind of freaky bug related to the mobile version...? Or perhaps there's a new weapon type the mobile version has the PC doesn't?
Yeah, I definitely remember it from the PC version, scouring faqs trying to figure it out, and having trouble finding forums at the time (GOG came later). Eventually I moved on. Seeing it on the Android version prompted me to investigate again.
The top pics are zoomed out all the way for a full system view-- instead of a mini-map, you zoom the main map in and out. PC versions the orbit paths are in the mini-map. (Edit - the bottom pic more closely resembles how it would look in the PC version.)
Right now I just warped into a Dominator-controlled system. A fleet of 7 Doms is right by me. I threw out a gatrix program, targeted the biggest Dom, and hit play/pause real quick. 1 combat turn, it flashed twice.
Then I tried several times to take a screenshot at the same time I hit the turn button. Missed the red beam every time, and now I'm dead. LOL. In the course of that. it probably flashed about 15 times.
It does not always target the player. I have seen it zap out at other ships, like Pirates fighting Rangers.
Loadout: Flux Blaster, Atomic Vision, Disintegrator, 2 Multiresonators (newly added, so no effect fom these).
Artifacts: Junior Droid, Blast Wave Localizer, Polarizer.
But taking into account that I have seen it hit ships in combat that I am not involved in, I have to question if my equipment has anything to do with it.
Going into Reboot on PC, loading up a game and diving into a Dom system; can't make it happen. Loadout 5 MRs.
Also reminds me that in the PC version it didn't happen anywhere near as much as in the Android version. PC version made me scratch my head a bit; Android, it's constantly happening (atm, anyway) and driving me crazy not knowing what it is. Unfortunately I can't find a dedicated forum for the game (other than Google Play, ya rite), so since I've experienced it across platforms, thought I'd try here.
Gonna try some tablet screen record apps; if I can figure out what's causing it on the tablet, I'll see if I can't recreate it in the PC version.