Holy shit I just had the most intense fight ever. After watching some vids I figured I'd try another pirate lord.
Discovered that chaff was super important so bound that and shield cells to a hotkey (HIGHLY recommended to do this as previously I had to fart around with firegroups)
So under a screen of chaff I managed to get in close and give him full volleys of lasers and missiles.
I ran out of missiles with him at 20% hull and me at 50%
Danced around with chaff and hit with the the lasers and multicannons and got him down to 5% but I was at 15% and my canopy had given out.
Screw it, it's do or die now. Pop chaff to disrupt his guns but he's head on so his fixed guns can still hit me. He's at 2% I'm at 8%
Full power to weapons...1% yes I'm gonna do it! System malfunction, multicannons down...no.....wait, I still have beam lasers, hit him with those.
My canopy shatters, sparks and smoke everywhere. Life support kicks on, 2% hull. Frantically hitting him with the beam lasers...0% Yes! OK just blow up already, if any one of his last dying shots hits me I'm a goner.
Finally...BOOM! Missions accomplished. 3:45 of life support time remaining. If I survive this I'm upgrading that unit! Never even considered it.
OK, scan for nearest station...1300 ls...oh no, you're killing me. Full power to engines, FSD engaged.
Distance is closing rapidly...1000, 900...800...2:30 left on the life support, I can do this.
Interdiction. Oh God, not now. With no canopy I can't even SEE the escape vector. I don't have time for this! Throttle to zero to submit. Valuable seconds ticking away. OK, submitted. I don't know what your name is, and I'm not sticking around to find out. Thrusters activated, FSD engaged but I only have 1:30 of life support left. Cabin starting to freeze up.
OK, back in supercruise, 600 ls to go...500...400....clock at 1:10.
Oh crap, I'm headed in the wrong direction, pay attention dumbass, navigating isn't so easy with no canopy...OK, back on target. Can NOT afford to overshoot this, which is easier said than done with no canopy to show the timer. Don't want to slow down but I have to. 6 mm, 5, 4, 3, 2...1 that's it, disengage FSD.
Drop to regular speed, 45 secs left in my life. Boost toward station, At least I can see where I'm going now. Request docking. Coming in hot. Docking this asp is a pain in the ass at the best of times. Hope the landing pad lights up or I'm screwed.
20 secs, lined up with entrance to station. Still going 200 but I can't afford to slow down. Sneak through the entrance, just grazing the side...where's my pad...15 secs left...there it is. Landing gear down, get down there...oh no, overshooting it...thrusters in reverse...no, not that much dammit! Reversed too far. OK, got this, back in line, drop down now...5 secs life support left...docking successful.
Sweet Jesus the life support reset to 5 mins...Repair all. 180k. I don't care if the pirate bounty was only 160k, I killed him and I lived to tell about it!
Hands are shaking with adrenaline...that was the most exciting video game moment I've had in years!
TL/DR: Screw you, read the whole thing dammit.
Excuse me while I go pop a victory beer.
