Powerplay Not considered hostile in other factions controlled systems?

[kizcat]

I've not done any power play stuff in a while...
But from what I remember, to undermine, basically you go to a control system of a hostile faction and blow their ships up. 30 merits per kill.

I've tried going to multiple factions control systems of all government types, and I'm never considered hostile. I've tried destroying their ships in these systems regardless, and still no merits.

I am considered hostile in some of these factions exploited systems. but my understanding is you don't get merits for killing their ships there and it has no baring on the undermined % of anything either.

So what am I doing wrong?

 

[CMDR Endincite]

Ok government type makes zero difference. You're hostile only in Powers not aligned with the same superpower (Fed/Empire/Alliance) as you. The ships you kill must also be Powerplay NPCs - that is they list no faction but the name of one of the 11 Powers. Local faction ships cannot be killed for merits.