Sounds like you're doing OK now but if things get dificult again you might want to try the "run for help" tactic. I've done this in SEIII plenty of times:
Equip a small fast ship (FG, ES) with emergency movement and loads of supplies. Train it up to full experience to make it even harder to hit.
Cloaking and solar harnessing tech are also useful if available. Don't bother with weapons, your tactic is to avoid combat and dodge the bullets if you do get into a fight.(maybe fit PDCs, if you have room)
Send it out into the unknown to make first contact with distant races. Hopefully you can pick up a few nice treaties to boost your resource / research / intel output.
If your enemies are as huge as you say then other small empires will be glad of the opportunity to make friends.
Remember - "My enemy's enemy is my friend."
The trick is to avoid combat by careful navigation. Avoid enemy space as far as possible and use storms and nebulae to hide from enemy fleets. Try flying through disputed territories - your enemies will be too busy killing each other to worry about your little ship.
You can help your heroic adventurer when it gets into trouble by using quick, cheap intel ops like "fake orders" and "ship bomb".
If you keep your distance from hostile ships and move quickly enough you might be able to get to the other side of their space, where you should have potential allies waiting for you.
Even if it doesn't work it's a great laugh frantically steering a lone frigate through enemy space with a 20 battlecruiser fleet on your tail...
BTW... has anyone else ever used this strategy? If not, can I name it after myself? "The Dogscoff Dash"
...catchy
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There is an exception to every rule. Including this one.
[This message has been edited by dogscoff (edited 25 April 2001).]