Here the problem: I'm running some rescue hostages mission and sometimes it would be very helpful to be able to target some modules (like cargo hatch, drive, point of defenses modules) in order to accomplish easily the mission.
The problem actually resides in the fact that you want to use the wrong tools for the task at hand
You dont need weapons. You need:
- a ship with strong shields that can take a beating (some will fire on you or they will have escorts that will fire on you)
- A-rated hatch breakers (3A minimum, 5A better)
- B-rated Collectors (minimum 3-4 collectors, the more the merrier)
- Enough limpets for the task (at least double than the number of hostages to be rescued)
- PDT, preferably 1 below to cover the cargo hatch, if possible another one on top.
Go in, fire hatch breakers at the target, use targeted mode collectors for fast retrieval.
If one hatch breaker wont release all the hostages, wait till the first one finishes the job then fire another one
IF you still dont get all of them, wake out of the instance and then jump back in and rinse and repeat (most of the time if the mission is not finished, you will find the Signal Source right behind you)
IF the target ship has PTD, you can still try to close from below and fire the hatch breaker from close distance. This might give the breaker a chance to survive and attach.
If you keep failing the easiest solution is to wake out and then back it. In the new instance you may find the same ship but without the PDT
Using weapons in this scenario means you risk to destroy the ship and fail the mission
But if you really want to use weaps, the only thing that is worth killing is the PDT since it is the only thing that can ruin the mission for you.
In which case you need some lasors to drop shields and 1-2 Packhounds aimed at the PDT and fired from a position that will guarantee they will actually hit the PDT and not the hull. Still, there are chances to kill the ship by mistake since most probably the target will roll and fly quite erratically either trying to kill you or to recover the cargo you just made it spill all over the place.
Edit: cannons might work too. Turreted or gimbaled ofc and fired from close distance while making sure there a direct line of sight between you and the PDT emplacement.
Edit2: cannons overcharged with high yield as experimental. It will greatly reduce damage, but it will add explosive effect - that's exactly what you want
TL: DR: i never used weaps in rescue hostage / political prisoners missions. Only hatch breakers and collectors.