What if their number was variable, depending on the ship you'd be flying at that moment? 1 for fighter, 4 for GB/cruiser, 8/ BS and (!) 16 or more per carrier-like. Then - Carriers could actually rely primarily on their fighter wing, not just the guns. The liberty carrier, battlestars, Outcast dreadnought, BH battleship, hell, even the Outcast destroyer has a docking bay. the thing is: the NPCs attack what they see red, and not always the player's target appears red to him.
Worth a deeper thought, since the possible benefits might be truly monumental.
![[Image: Vxqj04i.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/Vxqj04i.gif)