Yeah sorry it wasn't more coherant. My first game and that was in a tiny (100 star is the smallest possible) galaxy!
The game is ongoing, I expanded WAY too fast and ended up so deep in debt that I had to surrender and become a subjugated dominion of another empire to even survive. I traded them one of my colonies and some shiny shield tech for the opportunity to become a slave. I can probably work my way out of that later though.. damn sight better than them wiping me out.
I did find an 'ancient weapons testing ground' with an old capital ship which I reactivated. Tore it apart at my shipyards for a tech boost and it took me about 85% of the way to the next shield level, which rocks.
Anyway, the game is a lot of fun. I can only imagine how crazy it gets in a large galaxy (1500+ stars).
At one point (I had all the automation on "make suggestions" mode) the AI suggested I prep a sneak attack on an alien empire. It presented a plan, make a fleet with X ships and move them to Y location, declare war and strike these targets. I could approve or disapprove. I approved and it gathered the ships it listed and moved them out then when they were fueled and ready it got final authorization for the strike. I declared war and they went off, took out 2 mining bases and harassed civilian shipping, then came back. After that I was able to negotiate peace (after a few skirmishes) and I was in a much better position.