I was thinking defense on the return journey...
Yeah, see what you're thinking. However, 4 pips to engines, stick them behind you, full throttle, spam the boost button, spool up drive and run. Don't stop to chat, ask Q's etc. Just boogie on out if interdicted. Very little can catch you if you do this in a cobra. Even better to avoid the interdiction but that always seems like a random event to me. Safe trip.