When I use Hoshiko Demolition Bots on an enemy cap ship I am told that "Ability cannot target this type of object"

As I am new to using Hoshikos in a Micro fashion (I used to just keep them in the fleet and let them do whatever it was they did) - I never noticed this until now. Is this a bug or has it always been this way?

Also Rapture Battlecruiser - when I manually use Vengence the target circle comes up to select what to target but when I try to target it turns to the red x in a circle. When I click no message comes up at all.  When I autocast the ability it seems to work fine.  I was targeting frigates that were actively firing on the Rapture at the time.  Another bug?