Actually, it's a way to win the game very easily. All you need is a few fleets (preferably with a good hunk of VSDs). Then, you go to the outer rim, go planet by planet and reduce them to zero energy. Who cares if they join the Alliance, they're worthless planets. The important thing is that you know 100% the headquarters can never be there, nor can anything else. Repeat over and over, devestate the entire outer rim save for a few really nice planets you like. Eventually you'll find the HQ, if it escapes, they have a lot lot less places to run. It doesn't matter that you're not colonizing the rim, becuase you're making sure they can't either.
