With Interstellar Governance(.25 gold/pop./turn) researched, I focus on getting my first larger ship type and some fancy new boom-sticks.
Now that I've met my first race, I'm going to hire a spy and send him to a training mission. The other races like to steal your stuff, so hopefully my spy can catch them red handed.
As soon as I get my spy, I start to get reports of Pollop spies. Damn guys! I make a trade treaty with them despite all this James Bond stuff.
I send my fleet to Azield, some Xenos have been spotted there, probably guarding one of the high fertility planets. As I get closer, I notice a larger ship amidst the Xenos.
Umm.. yeah, I think I'll wait until I get the Corvette to challenge that thing. 20k shields, lots of weapons and assault troops onboard (the 9/13 figure).
Heck, even with few Corvettes I will probably lose a few to their boarding parties.
Galaxy map. Wendu II colonized.
To be continued...