I have never beaten cruel AI 1v1 simply because I don't have the time like many gamers have and thought that Vas v Adv. was a good way to ease into it.
The best way to beat the AI is to find a nice choke point, lay down a starbase, then start massing carriers with bombers. If you can reach about 100 squads of bombers, the AI simply cannot beat you and you should be able to thrash it regardless of its difficulty level. Throw in some caps and support cruisers as desired.
A big cloud of Vasari bombers with maxed out phase missiles is downright delightful regardless of which faction you're throwing them against, and the only real threat the AI ever deploys against such an army is phasic traps. Like all static defenses, however, the AI will happily fight outside of their effect radius. Use local-area targeting to keep your strike craft from straying into range and you're cool.
I remember my first win against vicious after getting Diplomacy. Knocked out one of his planets by putting a starbase there before he could react. At this point, the game was effectively over because he'd filled all his logistics slots but had only one factory. This meant that the AI had HUNDREDS of units queued up that it just couldn't build with only a single factory, and since the AI never demolishes logistics structures, this clinched it.
I won't argue with your analysis of the Akkan's ability however. Because you know your sh%t when it comes to Sins mate and I wouldn't be seen arguing strategy with Darvin.
I am not infallible, and am prone to errors and bias like anyone else. Feel free to challenge anything I say; you'll find I'll never dismiss you outright and instead present a detailed analysis of my views; one of the main reasons I'm here is because I enjoy discussing the finer points of the game. The discussion and analysis is a big chunk of the fun for me.
