Yes, but you don't see that countdown if your at tactical zoom.
Just to confirm things.
Yes you need full battle sequences on.
Yes there is a 10 week waiting period after the 5th module beyond the initial constructor is placed (total of 6 constructors then).
Last note on the campaign mission, make sure that A) the Iconians don't have a planet in the system, if they do influence flip it and

make sure you have a planet in another system. If you destroy that system and all your remaining planets ,you loose.
ETA on a TA manual...I think once 2.0 comes out.