The main station in iltari will sell you level 3 (quantum) shields and weapons and BFT torpedoes if your REP is 30+ (go to station admin and ask to upgrade your license, from the next day they appear randomly in the station trade interface)
Krogneath in the pirate station is not so discerning and he will sell you all once your NOT is 15 (or 20?).
With 6 BFT torpedoes and L3 weapon ans shield the princess fight is easy (look in walkthrough for the diagram). TLDR: Fly to top left rock, ignoring drones on the way (unless its oportune to hit them _with_ a ship also damaged). Then engage the two ships from behind the rock, hide there with your last turn(!) and then mop up
Hey YV, welp, I did get it done, lol, so I am now in the 3rd system. I now have to get a shield and cloak for the Pirate leader. Sheesh. lol. Not sure where to get it, but will figure it out. Also, I have a couple of suggestions: One, make the Cargo and Engine modules different colors, I have a hard time reading the small print, and I get confused at time. Also, not sure if this has been said before, but could you possibly make an actual SHIELD Cloak module? Using the cargo one is a bit disconcerting....lol. Just saying. Thank you again.