There are two parts to an attack on a capital ship. The long-range warhead attack part and the close-range strafing run. Though both parts are different, they are similar in many facets. They are both common in their setup and general execution of the attack. They both share the same core elements. That is, they follow a common set of rules. There are two rules to follow whenever attacking a capital ship, either in long-range warhead attacks or close-range strafing runs. They are:
Assess your situation: It is imperative that you know the current situation before beginning any sort of attack run against a capital ship.
Stay alert and be flexible: It is critical to both your survival and success that you stay alert of the situation during the entirety of your attack. You must also be flexible as the situation can quickly change, forcing you to take new actions.
Each part has four phases to it, setup, attack, break, and retreat. Each phase has a purpose and is no more or less important than any other phase.
When you go to attack a capital ship or armed facility, it is recommended that you carry shields. Though not required for a successful attack, they allow you a slight margin of error. For the remainder of this manual, we will assume that you are using a craft which is equipped with shields.