I think the best thing for you for exploration would be a Zoner tag and ID. The RT would fit in perfectly well in this case.
Now, for armour. Try freeport 11 in delta. That will sell the armour you're looking for which is mk8 armour upgrade, it costs 15 million credits.
Perhaps if you want to engage in military operations however you should get a merc ID. This would allow you to explore, then hire your services out to the highest bidder, be it the outcasts, corsairs, bounty hunters... whoever.
If you then use zoner guns and a zoner tag you would be considered neutral by all of them. I suggest you work on the background of the character, like where he was born, how he got into the mercenray trade etc. This is what gives your character real depth when you work this stuff out and really helps you become immersed in the game.
The Zoner Furys (the lvl9 variant) are really rather good. I suggest you try those out.