Defense
Defense is one of the ten basic ship statistics that will define your capabilities in the game. It acts to counter Attack.
Benefits
Defense reduces the amount of damage taken in each attack.
Improvements
Defense can be improved by installing defense modules on your ship, and by purchasing additional Helmsmen with Rank Points. Each point spent earns you two Helmsmen (and thus 2 points in Defense).
See Defensive Modules for information about researched defences.