Yeah, even for someone who doesn't typically save games, it hurts not being able to save in this game.
I was on track to finish in about 5 minutes - I'd cleared everything but the stunner & one lower right corner emitter - when I foolishly rushed the big lathe ship along with everything else to take the emitter. I timed it wrong and instead of the little ships taking the hit, I lost the lathe. AND dropped the amp gem right in the middle so I couldn't warp the HQ in and finish it off.
And I'm guessing if I replayed the map and finished it in 5 minutes it wouldn't post the new score since it would be (as the game sees it) an inferior score.
I agree with ColSanders about the tech - here's my 5-minute solution:
Omni reactor tech will allow you to rush the middle, so you (1) knock out the guns easily and (2) generate a lot of extra power early-game. I dropped the HQ on the right side to take the lower mine.
You collect an amp gem or two from the X land on the left. Once you get a gem your lathe can take out the emitters on the right pretty easily. No need to smash into anything.
If you want to play it safe, after you've killed the 2 closest emitters in the lower right corner, just warp your HQ in the middle and end it. You can (probably) get a better time by using your other ships as shields and dropping the double-lathe ship in there to finish stuff off.