Barracuda should be right at Kyushu, and most other planets in Kusari space. It's quite widely available. But, aye, that's an easy one, there. You can, honestly, just avoid battle and go for the jump hole when told. Because, otherwise, if you take too long, you get punted by the Mission Failed window and have to restart from the last save.
I think, though, that maybe they are talking about the encounter at Tau-29? I do remember I got fairly freaked near the end of that whole string of events- I was really running down on bots and batteries, there, while getting Sinclair and Quintaine and getting them out of Bretonia. After that, things weren't nearly as tough. Legionnaire had the agility, but apparently that tiny bit of durability difference between it and the Crusader was enough difference. (EDIT: I may have also had the wrong shield for countering Rheinland weapons, too. That's always important)
Oh, and it was only with these recent play-throughs that I realized about the Crusader and Patriot being named after StarLancer-era ships. They don't really look all that much like their 900-year-old predecessors, but they've got the names. This is because I also played through StarLancer completely before I started playing FreeLancer in recent days. I've basically been going on a Lancer binge, if you will. So, yeah. I know my Lancer backstory pretty damn well right now due to the stuff being quite fresh in my mind.
Currently: Remastering Kiith Somtaaw's Acolyte Fighter. These Homeworld ships need some Sirius work done on them. ^.-
"Do not interfere! We're here to protect the President! Schultzky's a traitor!"
For peace throughout the colonies! We will never forget..
"He who controls the [insert orange powder drug here] controls the universe!"
