An issue I keep running into is early expansion. So far I mostly play every so often against an AI opponent, either in Trinity or Rebellion beta. I'll write this from the perspective of TEC since I've been playing Rebellion. Normally when I start a new game the first thing I put down is a Capitol Ship Factory and usually build a Akkan Battlecruiser. I'll send it to the closest colonizable gravity wells that have the least enemy resistance.
I'll build 2-3 scouts and send them out to search. I'll build a few Cobalts to assist the Akkan.
I put down two Civ labs first to get Ice and Volcano Colonization. Often I go without upgrading fleet logistics for the sake of preserving income, which caps me at 29 after the Akkan. I keep attacking the closest planets moving outward, but because of the increased defense on many of these planets I get stuck trying to defeat the local defense ships. I feel like even on a 30+ Planet map I start getting attacked by the AI after only colonizing 4-5 planets tops which end up taking so much resources to defend that my expansion drops. I find myself also getting military upgrades to improve my ships rather then increasing my fleet logistics capacity to levels 1 or 2 so my ships do better against pirates and whoever else.
Sometimes I wonder if i should trying going for a further away planets so that when I get the trade station I can take advantage of a further trade post.
Any general advice in these areas would be appreciated.
P.S. I'm well aware of my n00b ways, so direct feedback won't hurt my pride. I have none in Sins. 
