Charon

I changed the timing of the start of phases like you suggested but did not change the timing of local forces getting updated battle gear to make sure my changes worked.  I have now reached a time when the local forces have upgraded weapons but the new phase has not started for the Aliens.  The new gear showed up in a terror mission in a VERY small town in far south South America.  Thanks for the help. 

Still have not found out why the game crashes when I produce a new product under manufacturing (although the product itself is not new just an alternate way to produce the product).   I can have everything in place but simply not produce the product and the game does not have a problem with it.  Any suggestions on where to look would be greatly appreciated.

Well I have other games to play with real live human opponents.  See you later.