ok if you have ever played me in a 5v5 which most of y'all have not. This is how i play i research Fleet supple and command (fleet logistics) first get 1 capital ship ( you need civic research because the military research is not needed till later). Then take one of the planets near your position. once the research for the 2nd command ship is complete build it (it dosnt matter which ship you build just as long as you have 2 capital ships).
Basically take as many planets near your home world. Keep Building civic research till you can research long jumps. research command after that and keep researching civic stuff like trade. If you last long you could get up to 16 capital ships with in 2 hours and 30 mins