While Empath is declared, you may tax any cities, and build ships and Catapult move with any starports, like they are Loyal. (Don't take Captives. Build ships damaged in Rival-controlled systems.)
A: This card should have errata provided to change the final sentence to "Build ships damaged in systems controlled by anyone else."
• The term 'blockaded' in the clarification is an old term for 'controlled by anything other than you.' In the base game, all that matters is Rival control. In the campaign, this can include control by the Empire, Free cities, etc.