Given that the UBW seemed to understand what the Flash-Pak was and how it worked fairly quickly, I would suspect that the data on it would spread out enough and fast enough that by the time the UBW started manufacturing them (Pliers said he didn't have time to make any extras, which suggests this is a simple concept to build... but hard one to conceive), that the Free Republic of the Landreich could also figure out the 'Flash-Pak proof armor' that everyone in Confed seems to be touting these days.
As far as the carrier scene goes, here's the cinematic from the opening parts of Pasqual:
Paladin: Ah, she’s a bonney ship. Tell me, is there news? Have there been more skirmishes in the Border Worlds?
Tolwyn: News of the worst kind, I’m afraid: betrayal. It appears that our great hero of the Kilrathi war has defected to the Union of Border Worlds.
Paladin: Blair? Defected? I find that hard to believe. He was always a hot head, but what on earth induced him to… what the devil is going on out there?
Tolwyn: The intelligence I’ve collected is erratic, unreliable. “Things fall apart. The centre cannot hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. The best lack all conviction…”
Paladin: “Whilst the worst possess a passionate intensity” – Yeats. And you have no idea who is behind all this?
Tolwyn: Well, one thing is clear, Senator: the Border Worlds militia grows increasingly aggressive. A grave mistake.
Paladin: I never knew Blair to be rash.
Tolwyn: Betrayal is always a mystery.
Paladin: Well, we are running out of time, Admiral. A declaration of war against the Border Worlds has been laid before the Assembly. The vote will be in seven days. The outcome of that vote will largely be determined by your report.
Tolwyn: Well, let’s hope that war is not our only option.
I don't see any signs of Paladin not reacting to 'carrier group' - it was never mentioned.