The NPCs can also fly straight through asteroids in fighters, I've lost count how many times the finishing salvo has hit a rock the NPC I was shooting at has flown through and then it comes back through the rock with half it's hull, full shields and firing madly.
As for battleships flying through asteroid fields... pick a smaller/slimmer one, otherwise, go dead slow, fly manually and use strafe.
Most importantly, never use the autopilot unless your hands are half a second away from the free-flight and cruise buttons.
