No hitchhikers please!

[ZylonBane]

This one's really been annoying me lately--

Sometimes, I WANT to solo through the universe, seeing how well I can do with just my starting ship. But for some reason the devs decided to have !@#$%* Ripcord O'Reilly and that Muktian ship forced into your fleet when you find them, rather than asking. Worse, when you pick up the Muktian you're automatically and irrevocably allied with them, which throws a monkey wrench into any galaxy-wide killing sprees you might have had planned.

Would it really be so hard for these guys to ASK if they can come along?

[PvK]

I bet it's an easy mod...

[TaoLibra]

Y'know, if you really don't want that Muktian fighter or Ripcord tagging along, it's easy enough to get rid of them: Just enter combat with somebody, and immediately order the unwanted fighter to charge straight into (and through) the enemy lines. Bingo, no more hitchhiker.

If you time it right, they might even create a useful distraction as they heroically sacrifice themselves to, uhhh� "save the fleet," or whatever.

And if the Muktian fighter happens to heroically sacrifice himself in that manner before you greet any other Muktians, then you won't be forced to befriend them.

[ZylonBane]

Yeah, I've done that with Ripcord (seemed appropriate), but I'd rather just leave them behind, then go around and scoop them up afterwards for the points.