Purge in Space
Read regions, not only bases
Every citadel owns the hex cells closest to it. Some positions therefore control more world tiles than others. A base with a large region can matter more to Emperor progress than a visually convenient base near your ship.
Build connected territory
Neighboring regions with the same owner form a continent. Connections create several advantages: they make the empire easier to read, enable supply-line visualization, and can unlock a continent ability bonus after the connected territory passes the tile requirement.
Defend edges and connectors
An interior citadel may be safe but strategically replaceable. A narrow connector between two groups can be far more important. Losing it may split one continent into separate pieces and remove a bonus even when the total number of bases remains similar.
Use capitals as information
The capital marker identifies the citadel with the largest Voronoi region in a continent. It is not an invulnerable throne. Treat it as a signal that the position carries a large share of that connected territory.
Preserve respawn options
After your first capture, territory becomes your survival network. Keep at least one defensible fallback rather than extending every base into a vulnerable line. If you are reduced to one citadel, avoid leaving it undefended for a low-value chase.
Attack the leader intelligently
When a pilot begins the Emperor hold timer, you do not always need to destroy the whole empire. Capture enough meaningful territory to push the leader below the threshold. Large regions, connectors, and exposed border citadels usually produce the fastest interruption.
Transfer after combat
Defeating an established rival can transfer most of that rival's outposts to the attacker. Before engaging, look at the territory you may inherit and the enemies positioned to take it from you immediately afterward.
Territory is both score and infrastructure. Plan every fight around what the map will look like after the result.