Gecko,
Thank you for an excellent game! Whatever mistakes you made, I am sure were equaled by some of my own. This was a very fun and close game.
We started about 2 systems apart, and Gecko's Space Sharks found me around turn 6 or 7. At that point I attempted to colonize in the neighboring system, which had one of the only carbon dioxide planets (my atmosphere) I found for quite some distance around. Gecko threw me out of that system. He was savvy enough to focus on missile technology, since he noticed my defensive advantage and took advantage of his movement bonus. I countered this by going for Drones, and they served their purpose well. On at least 2 occasions Gecko was in my home system and struck at my homeworld once. In an critical moment, my drones attacked his 19-ship fleet (which had just annihilated my fleet at about the same size) and heavily damaged one of his sweepers...enough to leave this fleet vulnerable to my mines, and then lacking much point-defense my fighters picked apart the remainder of his ships.
By this point, I had put together a small fleet in another system, with a troop transport. I had explored much of the galaxy and found few CO2 planets (particularly with any mineral production), but quite a few hydrogen planets. So I snuck in from a surprise direction and liberated one of his planets and shuttled that population back to my systems. They were just beginning to boost my resource and intel production, although I never had time to use the latter.
With both of us having gas giant colonization, the game hinged on my having superior position to move unhindered through the rest of the galaxy. Gecko had more planets available for exploitation earlier in the game. However, had he pushed further in the south, he would have found 5 hydrogen planet for his use. Otherwise, focusing his attack on my home system did prevent me from really moving in other directions, since I had to defend my homeworld. Had our positions relative to the galaxy been more equal, or had more hydrogen planets been within his reach, this game would have gone longer.
I can't wait until I have another match. It was fun playing an opponent who chose a more unique race design. Knowing he needed no spaceports was a great concern of mine.
I do deny the Sherman's March comment. I destroyed one colony the entire game, and that was early. I was moving to capture planets rather than glass them and that not only helped, but made for a more on edge game.