Federation Commander

If a planet is in a hex with a side that is along a straight line between a potential firing object and a target, does it block the line of fire?

Example: (using the large hex side of a FC map panel)
Medium size planet is in hex 55
DefSat is in hex 56
Potential target ship is in hex 44.

Does the planet block the line of fire from the DefSat to the ship (and visa versa?)

Since the ship could normally choose to take the fire on either shield in the direction of the DefSat, couldn't the player simply choose to have the fire come through the shield closest to the planet and have it blocked?

Sorry for the long delay in answer.

Since the line of fire isn't really intersecting the planet's hex, though it is going right along the edge of it, the fire isn't blocked, and the target can still chose whichever valid shield it wants hit.