Hi OP hope I'm not too late with a suggestion for 1.9.
Here Goes:
2 x Shield slots on HF and VHF, 1 being the main sheild and a secondry shield to protect the main one.
Like an outer skin that depletes once hit and recharges like your eg. adv champ.
Gives you a better chance in surviving IC baddie attacks.
Somewhat similar to the Borg addon shield in ST Voyager.
May have to change Shield metering though.
Also, Beam Lasers, at the mo all guns fire some sort of projectile, can we have a steady beam laser
of some sort like what the Enterprise fires, just to keep it all Sci Fi of course.
Keep up the good work.
Cygna1