From a flavor standpoint, I like the idea that maintenance has the Rapiers and Raptors downchecked for repairs. With the way pilots have been flying these birds, it’s not really a surprise that they’d pretty much all be Code 3 (Not Mission Capable) or Code 5 (Battle Damaged). So for flavor, we’re flying Scimitars. Because those probably would be the last things anyone wants to take out on a mission right now. Unfortunately, this turns this mission from “Challenging” to “Maybe Kurasawa 2 wasn’t so bad after all?”
A few Salthi at Nav 1 aren’t too bad. Actually, encountering three Salthi while flying Scimitars with Paladin is positively nostalgic. Like McAuliffe 1 all over again. That’s about the last time we feel happy in this mission. Krants aren’t so bad, but Jalthi and Gratha? No thank you. One shot from a Jalthi will ruin your entire day. Two hits from a Gratha will do the same, and the odds are that by the time you’re facing that last group of five, that Paladin will have headed for home from too much damage. Argh.
Even the station can shoot missiles and potentially wreck you if you’re feeling overconfident. It might be worthwhile to travel back to the Claw via Nav 1 to avoid the minefield. Not that I did that, but I also didn’t go back to hunt down the Salthi that ran away at Nav 1.