Question re: Action Cost & Movement Allowance

[Liebchen]

Relying on only AI defensive fire is just not good play.

This is not always necessarily so, IMHO. If my goal is to delay the offensive troops for as long as possible, then firing my defending troops during my turn gives the enemy "defensive fire" shots and may hasten my own units' breakdown or demise. Therefore, under these particular circumstances, I will often not actively fire, but will make the offensive player spend his turn (and time) hammering away at my units.