I just had a Massive metallic alerted for me to take. It was unoccupied, and I took it. However, when I started to try to put stuff on it, I discovered it had been filled with stuff. Now normally, I would accept this as someone helping out and would thank them. But this was weird. It have +12s on it, which I haven't researched, plus an exotic lab, which I haven't researched. Also had things like phase cutters on it, which I know that someone else cannot put on a planet for me.

So, I ask, what the bloody hell just happened?

You found a planet of a banned player. (Those keep all the structures, but are invisible until colonized)

You're wrong about it being banned players unless Dan changed something.

First thread about this.

Or a reset. Probs long before ur legion mate found it. It happens. Someone got planet like that too. It happens sometimes, but not always.

This is much more likely... I have had banned players' planets on scan. All of them have an owner, none of them went to colonizable status.

I think if you wait a while, their account is completely removed, sorta like resetting.

Not true~ (unless i'm completely mistaken and I apologise pre-emtively if I am) How long ago was Kaos banned? as I invaded a planet belonging to him last week~ it still had 'enemy occupied'

I've had planets of long time Inactives just suddenly go unoccupied. Unless it's because they're inactive and not banned. Same thing, really, right?

I have had a friend play to level 31. stopped for 2 years, come back account wiped.

It could be a reset player. The other possibility is a player who Dan wiped from the game, this happens sometimes when someone screws up really bad. Like a reset their structures stay.