I've seen that a hot debate currently rages on among captains about repairing while under fire. Depending on your point of view, repairing can either be a life or death decision, or a cause of frustration. And in my opinion, both are totally right. The maintenance of a navy or an army is always a strategically complex issue since you always want to have forces at their strongest to participate in a fight.
While a crew is working hard to repair damage done, they are not piloting the ship or firing the cannons. If you managed to escape a hotly contested area, or if you have just survived over a long battle of attrition against an enemy ship, it is a good idea to take some time and repair before seeking a new target.
However, in most cases, repairs have to be done under heavy fire. These are the situations which bring a lot of controversy. A ship landed in the middle of the battlefield, with its crew busy trying to maintain the ship's stability and integrity, is a sitting duck. They do have the benefit of regeneration. Yes, the ship can stand under fire longer, but it is not preventing enemy craft from firing its own weapons. As long as the repairing ship can avoid ramming, it is relatively safe, especially if it has enough space between itself and the enemy.
How do you prevent the repairing of ships? It all depends on the kind of ship you are facing, and the one you are piloting. Do you have better energy systems? You should favor the electromagnetic pulse weapon, and you should use your speed to try to finish the opponent with ramming, just before he can repair. If you have a better hull, never hesitate to take the risk and ram. You'll also get a shot at the enemy craft. And finally, if he has better shields, you'd better not trust your weapons alone since they can be ineffective, and anyway, damage done can be fixed.
In the end, repairing should be viewed as a last chance. Well timed, it can tip the balance in your favor. When badly used, you're only giving the opponent more time to get in place. Maintenance is an investment. You might not be progressing on the battlefield, but you're picking up your forces to continue the fight. Use it wisely.
Until next time,
Captain Turgut