mmmmm The only insta death iv experienced was handed down by some munchkin sat in a Conda at a conflict zone who Zapped me, most likely with a set of railguns. I was in a bog standard Sidewinder, so very similar in terms 'the grand scheme of things' to an Eagle. Also this was mostly because i sat completely still while i was figuring out which side i wanted to join.
Now, this aside, iv done a lot of exploring and a LOT of USS hunting. There was a time where NPCs come in suicidal and start shooting before you have even had chance to look around. BUT since resent updates iv not experienced this, and this is experience of about 50 or so USS encounters.
What iv seen is typically the NPC will give you at least 5 seconds. It seems to depend upon what you do, if you are not moving, they tend to position themselves near you and wait. If you are moving around, they just tend to attack.
Now, Iv found Wraak at a random USS (i wasn't on the mission either) and even he didn't simply open fire all guns blazing. He did the normal "Give me your stuff" To which i ran away. Iv experienced alot of NPCs warping away the moment I drop in at a USS, like i drop in and i get notification of a frameshift device charge detected. Iv also dropped in at a USS to find 1 pirate Conda having a beating from 3 police Condas + a poor sidewinder.
OP might have suffered some kind of lag effect in which the drop from SC took longer than normal, and so the experience was one of being shot at instantly, so in the server time it would have looked like you sat there for a few moments while the NPC said his stand and deliver, which you never saw. They then lit you up as is their tradition. Other than that I don't think that is all too normal.
