@sylph_ Related to what FTX said, sounds like you're just not handling the micro correctly then. Your ACU should probably be mirroring theirs, and if it is and you have range and they don't then they should never be in range of either your acu or your auroras with their acu. Their tanks can get in range of your acu but who cares, if it's somewhat even then your auroras and your acu have been hitting their tanks the whole time they were trying to get in range and they can't do much.
If they have gun then basically you can trade HP with your acu (if you've got range + speed) vs their acu and not much else changes. Your aurora generally shouldn't be in range of their tanks unless they're fully committing.
Aeon T1 is much less forgiving than the other factions, you have to be on top of unit and acu positioning at all times or you'll get punished for it.
As for flares, they win vs all the other labs and are a bit better/stronger at raiding in general to offset the slow aurora. You don't keep making them later in the game or use them in place of tanks, but they're more flexible than other labs.