Mostly you have to make sure that these conditions are met when playing against Advent Rebels:
Make sure your planets are not aligned in a single line, you need planets in the back that are not in direct reach of enemy planets as safe point for your fleet, at the same time those planets should not be ten jumps away.
Try to take high population worlds around you and fortify yourself there, try to look for borders that favor your defense and simply cannot be wailed efficiently (worlds that have asteroids or moons, maybe even just space junk etc. next to them).
If the enemy manages to get a high population world, try to attack (if possible from different angles at once) and raid the planet, Marzas and Desolators should help (Ogrovs, too). Keep their constructors and temples down and run again. Try to build up a fleet at the same time to take/retake the planet. If you cannot manage to reach the planet for some time retreat your fleet and fortify your defenses/starbase there (Orkulus should laugh at wail methinks). Try to trick the enemy into using wail by sending in small fleets and waltzing around.