Yeah that guide people keep posting works! you just have to get lucky though... My boat actually ran the madagascan blockade (they shut the shipyard) and still infected them so I got the badge :D
I think that a failed intercept should be punished... seriously if the enemy is out of range and attack power I can spam it all day and STILL get my extra 20 power next turn... meanwhile they have a choice of just resting or dying... dunno how... maybe like lose 20 power or summat if you miss... it just seems a lil unfair to allow you to just whack a ability that has no negative effect every turn...