Haesslich
Spaceman
Expendable said:Well, wouldn't the thrusters sear the crew and damage equipment/parked fighters?
Not if they were expelling rather 'harmless' gases - you wouldn't need the high-energy stuff to maneuver or slow down in atmosphere, where you've got drag to consider, on top of what the airshield'll do to your speed. Besides, that's what the ACLS and tractor beams are for.
The main reason he didn't want to use thrusters in there was because it'd affect his landing, IIRC; on page 68, it notes that the deck was 'too tight' for a last squirt from thrusters - in other words, he was more concerned with colliding with something after braking with the thrusters and being pushed to one side (or up), or so I interpreted that last statement.
And as far as Antman goes... he needs to read End Run. There's a reason that the tractor beam being used on a fighter doesn't send the capship employing it squirting meters in the other direction - the strength of a beam that'll pull a fighter in several kilometers will only pull the carrier a meter or so towards the other craft.