[Zereth]

I remember hearing that the ship strategies, as well as the more general AI stuff, was now done with scripting systems, so you have more control over things than in SEIV? Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Keep in mind that simultaneous strategic movement will probably work in much the same way as in SEIV (aside from the hex grid replacing the square grid), so if you're playing multi-player you wouldn't have direct control over your ships in combat at all anyway.