Saving a faction that is being conquered?

[binTravkin]

Hi!

There are two outcomes to a faction being conquered (total conquest):
A) Capture and interrogation
B) Escape with a colony pod

Is there a way I can get the B to happen?
I don't have access to either of the factions and have commlink only to the conqueror.
Conquest happens during commlink disruption.

This is for a single player game, so reloading is not a problem.

Thank you!

[Yitzi]

I'm not certain, but I think it is purely a function of the mission year; anyone killed in the first 100 turns escapes with a colony pod (unless "do or die" is on), anyone killed after that is out.

[binTravkin]

That's really bad luck on my side, because Hive conquered them in MY 2201. 

[Kirov]

In SMAX, you can probe the conqueror's HQ to have a option to "Free Captured Faction Leader". Note that it's a mission of difficulty 2, (50%,0%) for Disciplined Probes. The faction will then restart as if escaped and will be in a Pact of Submission with you.

[Geo]

Yeah, I once had a hilarious time when I freed Deedee from Rubin's University Spheres.