Turn order in Strategic Combat

[stecal]

What determines who moves first in strategic combat? It seems like my ships always go second no matter whether I iniatiated combat or not. This is especially painfull at warp points where my carriers often get blown up by enemy fire before they even get to launch their fighters. I am player 8 of 8 in a multiplayer, simultaneous game and I would hate to discover that is why I go Last