No you can't. I'm t/m with 50 scientists 0 lost from abducts I can't abduct and nothing can change that. I will always be behind in def, BE and income. I either have to play a/t/m which is forcing me to play a different type than intended or stay where I am. No skills are involved in both cases.
It used to take skills to build UB t/m. What you are saying is either attack or you can't adapt which means you don't have skills...