This is a simple view of how the game screens are connected.

Working from deep space inward...

-GALAXY MAP:
Which contains all the planets in the game.
Each player gets ONE planet.
(No you cannot take over another planet EXCEPT Resource Worlds)
(When you attack a player and win; you get 10% of his currently stored resources)
(You do not harm his base in any other way)

-SPACE BASE:
Orbiting your planet is a space station and any defenses you have built.
When attacking, an invading player must defeat all the defensive weapons and structures before he can attack the station itself.

-SUBSIDIARY TERRITORY:
(Also known as CELESTIAL BASE)
(Also where you go to find the Intergalactic Council)
What this is is a space-based factory. You grow resources in the open circles surrounding the center (Celestial Temple).
When the resources are finished you can click the HARVEST ALL button and have them added to your available resources (Dont forget to start new ones).
Also here is where you help your friends. I check this screen as often as I can.

HOW IT WORKS:
Your Celestial Temple needs regular maintenance.

When you see a wrench icon next to a friends name, Click their name and then their Celestial Temple.

When you see the small blossom icon next to a friends name, click their name and then HARVEST ALL and gain whatever resources were ready to harvest.
(They do not loose anything when you do this).
BE AWARE, HARVESTING COSTS YOU SP POINTS

When your base has been wrenched by 8 friends, you can click your own Celestial Temple and the Intergalactic Council will award you 8 Vouchers. This can happen once a day (or longer if you dont get 8 helping hands each day)

-GROUND BASE:
Here is where you start your game.
You build resource buildings to harvest METAL, He3, and Gold.

I recommend you starting ALL these buildings. This is your bank account for doing EVERYTHING in the whole game. If you skimp on construction of these buildings you are basically throwing money away.

This is the backbone of your empire. I know you want to build ships right away and kill stuff. but if you make upgrading these your first priority you will be far far ahead as time goes by.

(There is no need to expand your borders, everything you can build will fit on the land you have)
(You cannot change the background terrain, sorry)