Trejiuvanat is right. The only way I have been able to make the AI even begin to be a challenge is when I do general bombardment on all planets I control in the Core. I prefer to play the rebels and with this tactic I start out giving the empire a large advantage. I have also played games where I did no sabotaging at all. This also gave them an advantage. I biggest fleet I have seen the AI develop without the use of RebEdit was about 4 SSSD 6 ISD and 10 lancers. Not that it mattered against my 10 bulwarks, 5 assault frigates, 3 interdictors, 15 mon cal cruisers, 25 gunship, and 10 liberators crusiers every ship packed with x-wings. Anyway...