Totally Screwed?

[ribbitboy05]

I just started playing with discovery a few days ago, and have run into a serious problem while trying to play through the story. I'm at the point where you have to escape liberty with juni, and I'm still docked on manhattan. Problem is, the weaponry on the waiting military vehicles in space is so ridiculously overpowered I get shredded before I even have a chance to push the button for my shield batteries, let alone accelerate. I'm in a defender so my shielding isn't all that great, and due to game level constraints can't purchase the csv, which is the only thing with even remotely near enough stats to survive available on the planet. any ideas or am I totally screwed three ways to sunday?