Splitting into two groups theoretically made it easier on you.
If we joined with the others as a single group, you'd have been mauled too quickly with overwhelming numbers.
If you had managed to defeat the regular forces, you could have easily mopped us up, I reckon.
I didn't really want to order my guys (save Liam, who wasn't fully IDed yet) into a battle and totally overwhelm you guys.
Either we get complained at for doing our job of thieving, or we'd get complained at for overkill. Much of a muchness.
EDIT: And for the record, our presence, and our speaking to some local GC, prevented the GC from attacking with a cruiser, fighters and bombers. I told them that you guys had a battle planned, and overkill would be too much.