If you’re playing the Nova port, take the data files and run them through ConText parsing spöb resources. Open in a spreadsheet and check the column for DefCount. If you’re playing the original EVO, best bet is probably to run the data through SpacePort then ConText, but I expect the results should be the same.
Anyway, Council Station is the hardest, with 2275 Crescent Warships. Zidagar has 720 ships, The Rock has 400, and Earth has 210.
There’s only two ways I know of to dominate Council Station in any kind of reasonable timeframe. And I believe only one of them would be effective in the Nova port.
Method 1: Get a fleet consisting of one Enhanced Arada (for yourself) and 6 Voinian Dreadnoughts (for escorts). Also obtain for yourself 1 Plasma Siphon, 2 Fuel Scoops, 2 External Fuel Tanks, and 1 UE Cloaking Device. Demand tribute, then cloak. Anytime you get low on fuel go board a disabled Voinian Interceptor and steal its fuel. When there are none, land on Gadzair. Also land on Gadzair occasionally anyway, because your Dreadnoughts will sustain damage from their own Heavy Rocket explosions, and may eventually die if you don’t land.
Method 2: Get whatever you want, preferably with a lot of weapon space. Get 8 Defense Pod Launchers and as many Defense Pods as you can carry. Sit on top of Council Station and fire one salvo. Demand tribute. If the ships that launch don’t die instantly, fire another salvo. When the first wave of 5 Crescent Warships finishes exploding, land on Gadzair. Repeat.