Hi!

I just started playing this game a couple of days ago and I quite like the mining aspect of the game.

So far, I have done all career agents quest except the advanced military.

But I have a problem related to mining.

When I go in 0.6 sectors to mine some Pyro, often there are NPC bandits waiting for me. Since I am using the Venture, I don't have any defense mechanism to kill them, I equipped the Venture with 2 mining lasers, 2 mining drones and a Mining laser upgrade. I could use a combat ship and equip it with 2 mining lasers and a combat laser, but I would lack the huge ore cargo space of the Venture (No ship that I own come even close of the 5000m3 of the Venture.

So my question is, what would be the safest way to mine in sectors where NPC bandits are around.
1 - Equip a shield regenerator (medium slot) on my Venture and just let them hit me while I mine.
2 - Remove the mining laser upgrade and replace it with a repairer so I can withstand attacks while repairing
3 - Replace one or both mining drones with combat/defense drones
4 - Use a combat ship and do A LOT of back and forth between the asteroid belt and the station (I could do some jetcan mining, but I am afraid people would steal my ore since I won't be equipped to fight back with a ship equipped toward mining)
5 - Whatever else I didn't think about :)

The only thing I want, is to be able to fill my ship without worrying about dying to NPC bandits. (currently with both lasers, both drones and the upgrade, it takes around 15 minutes I think, should be faster as I gain skills)

Thanks a lot!