Turning the Tables

Mission:	Turning the Tables
Location:	Jangala L-4 in the Corvus system
Date:	203.11.23
The independent prospector ISS Hamatsu has spent the last five weeks tech-mining on the decivilized world of New Maxios. The haul is good, the hold filled with stripped sheets of nanofactured smart materials, data matrices trailing I/O fibers, and several cores from what may well be forge-vat control units. The crew is ready for some R&R and the salvage team contractors eager to collect their share. Practical cynicism stoked by rumours of a Luddic Path cell operating in the local volume have led the Hamatsu's captain, seasoned combat-salvage veteran Callisto Ibrahim, to retain a mercenary ship with a particularly tenacious reputation for protection en route to buyers in the Core Worlds. Ibrahim's worries were justified. Winding down from hyperspace at Jangala's L4 for a routine refueling stop in the Corvus system the ships are attacked by the very-real Luddic Path raiders. The Path blames technology for humanity's ills and consider it their sacred duty to prevent the Hamatsu and it's high-tech cargo from reaching Hegemony space - or die trying After a brief conference, the captains of the Hamatsu and the mercenary ISS Black Star conclude that a direct assault offers the best chance of success - retreat is not viable as the Hamatsu is low on fuel. The ISS Black Star is under your command. If you make it out of this alive, you might just be able to track down who it was that tipped of the Path.
Tactical Briefing
-Defeat all enemy forces -ISS Black Star & ISS Hamatsu must survive -Stay with the ISS Hamatsu (friendly cruiser) for safety
Your Flagship
Name:	ISS Black Star
Type:	Hammerhead-class

Order of Battle
Attacking	1x Hammerhead 1x Venture	Attacking	1x Condor 1x Lasher 1x Hound 2x Talon
ISS Hamatsu and ISS Black Star with drone escort		Luddic Path forces

Strategy

Before you begin, it's worth going to the refit screen and modifying your ship to something that doesn't rely on Sabot SRMs for penetrating shields (as they are ineffective against frigates); the stock Elite variant works for the purpose.

Deploy all your ships at the start, and have your Mining Pods move to one or both objectives, with the Hamatsu positioned nearby to support them. The enemy will get to the objectives before you do, so get ready for a fight.

The Talons may attempt to intercept you but the Hamatsu is armed with Flak Cannons, and lasers will pick off fighters as they attack you, so you don't generally need to worry about them.

The Condor will sit in the back and respawn fighters as you kill them, so you'll want to deal with it. Either your Black Star or the Hamatsu will make short work of it in a one-on-one, although it may be difficult for the Black Star if either enemy frigate is harassing you at the same time.

The enemy will retreat once you kill the Condor and either of the frigates. If you can, catch ships before they run away for the highest score possible.