Initial scouts to nearby systems, followed up with science surveys to safe ones, prioritizing worlds outside my existing borders for settlement. Though surveying outside the system will wait until my home system is done- rushing mining stations is key while I research colony ships. Outside the system, the focus will be on surveying any habitable worlds before systems as a whole. A second survey ship is also a priority.
After that, I plan to run right up to the planet cap as quickly as colony energy costs allow, again, prioritizing outside my space and filling worlds within my borders later. This will also allow for stronger border sectors, as the outer rim of the empire will be more developed than inner worlds beyond the Homeworld.
While that happens, building up a fleet to deal with space critters is a priority- I want the sweet, sweet research from them there space whales and crystals and things. And I hate leaving hostiles nearby.
Alien contact isn't much of priority for me, I'd rather wait and be contacted rather than rush research points out the door just to chat. Unless they have hostile first contact protocols, but early game that doesn't seem too much of a threat, as their fleets will take a while to equal stations, and they won't have armies to land.
An early sector may be necessary- it depends how many worlds I find quickly, and how many future colonies I end up with inside my borders.
Starting empire- probably adaptive; fanatic spiritualist, xenophile. Not sure of government, but leaning toward theocratic oligarchy. However, divine mandate might be better, as the mausoleums would also affect alien Pops. But was also thinking just plain spiritualist, adding militarist, and picking military dictatorship.
May add communal and sedentary.
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