[Growltigga]

Andy, thinking about it, the only tip I can suggest about empire management (and is only a reflection of what I do rather than any right or wrong answer) is to centralise my building programme in each system.

What I mean by this for example is that if I have 3 habitable planets with shipyards in one system, I may use them to build carrier vessels whilst say in another system, the shipyards there will build fighters. A transport will carry the fighters by way of a shuttle run to a central fleet base. The carriers will be instructed to go to that fleet base when built and then you should be able to marry up carrier Groups to their respective carriers.

This is probably inefficient, but it is the only way I keep track of everythig going on round me.

Good luck!