Anyone know this space game?

I'm having serious difficulties remembering the name this game I used to like, and decided to ask if someone has better memory than I do.

It's similar to Freespace or Darkstar One (but I don't think it's either of them). It's very plot driven, and the only thing I can remember about the plot is that at some point the space ship the player is controlling is 'upgraded' by an alien entity, which is later revealed as evil (I think).

..I just read what I wrote, and this sounds completely idiotic. But can anyone recognise the game I'm talking about?

(And yes.. I did google and search gamespot for "a while")

space ace ..

i think

darkstar one you do upgrade your ship by collecting green things that were often hidden in asteroids, but i didnt complete it so iv no idea if its the right game or in fact what the source of the upgrades was. AGMing

Hmm.. I don't think this 'upgrade' was anything you we're able to collect. It was tied to the plot (scripted event). I might be wrong, I need to get a hold on that game.

space ace ..

i think

Electric-Guitar

Hehe :) maybe I need to specify that the game was published somewhere between 2000 and 2006.

Thanks though.

Descent 3, maybe? You're not in outer space, but you are in a space ship and often on the surface of planets and such with no atmosphere (so you can see space as the skybox). You don't get your ship upgraded by anything alien, but as you go along, you do come across a couple new ship chassis that you can choose to use instead.

I really don't think this is it, but it was in 2000 and it kind of meets some of the characteristics you mentioned, so I figured I'd throw it out there.