(Encountered during play @ Atlanta Game Fest...surely more questions to come)

Macron's alien card shows his power as being used during Launch and Alliance. However, it does not state exactly when his power (to count ships as 4) goes off if he is on defense. When would someone Cosmic Zap him when he is the defensive player, and would that simply force him to count his ships as 1 apiece?

If he is Zapped when attacking or allying, does that allow him to commit up to 4 ships as normal?

On offense or as an ally, Macron must be zapped in either Launch or Alliance before (or as) he's sending his single, worth-four ship. Zapping him allows him to bring multiple worth-one ships.

I would say that on defense, Macron must be zapped during Launch, at the same time he would normally be zapped on offense. (Zapping during Reveal would be easier, but his card states that by then it's too late.)