This isn't much of a grave dig, since it's only a couple of weeks old.
Heck, there are times when it might take me a month or more to find something in the forums since I don't have time to peruse everything all the time.
Anyway - if you're taking a whale into a dangerous system - your best armor is to hire escorts. No one in their right mind would take something that doesn't have at least 5 or more guns into someplace teeming with radiation and/or pirates without a decent escort. You'd be looking to find your self as the main menu item on Toledo station or the next experimental subject out at Malta if you did so.
TRY to consider your RP as if you really were the pilot and/or crew of your ship. There's a reason why I almost entirely stick to trade lanes with my trader...
