[Taqwus]

Especially in a large galaxy, it can be a good idea to build a couple of long-range scouts (unarmed, tiny hull with extra supply storage). Cheap, and ISTR that you can achieve roughly twice the range of a colony ship -- which is good, because the colony ship doesn't need to make a return trip. If you have neighbors, you want to know pretty quickly... and if you don't, that's useful information as well.

Oh, and unlike what the manual sez, I'd suggest building some intelligence centers *before* you meet somebody so you can get counter-intel up and running ASAP.

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night