If any further information is needed, I'll provide

I was thinking "Hm, nice ship" but then I saw your hull. You have it researched, so get some!

Why haven't you got Neutronium installed? My upkeep, which includes 7 antiprotons (used to be 8) 5 DCN hulls and a defence module isn't even 200mil. It's easy to afford, just don't think Fermionic will be the same way.

Your defence research is seriously lacking. You need to bring that up, right up, to energy nullifiers and get one online. For flat defence they're better than the BM Convoys.

You should also have +8 structures by now, and Planetary shields (Rift Shields).

go for planetary shields, energy nullifiers, and install neutronium (deep core)

if you can manage it, skip +8 planet buildings and go straight for +10, better turnout for space, but higher cost

So, after 9 months, I've more than doubled my rank, and I've gotten that much more stronger. How have I improved, and where could I possibly improve a bit more? (Those two sensors are for Caelon).

Good 'ol defense and attack upgrade? Up the Phase Shifts to Energy Nullifiers at the least, then continue researching Defense or Attack once you finish +12s?

I - personally - would probably remove the Kronyn Anomaly Engines, Mylarai Lances, a variety of energy (there's no way you can let that much cap, ever - just install them before ranking and uninstall after), the Mind Controllers, or the X-Deflectors to accomplish the defense upgrade (in no particular order, I'd probably start with the Mind Controllers though).

Personally would agree with this. Defence is key IMO, nonetheless you'll get disabled, well everyone does but make them spend their energy on you. Other than that, you have a nice ship.

the dent is hardly noticeable

Oh, you got the good side of my ship! You should see the other side where you ran into it

On a side note, since this picture, I've taken out my Mind Controllers, Lances, Anomaly Engines and X-Deflectors, and have upgraded all of the Phase Shifts to Energy Nullifiers. There is also one more Quantum Overlay installed. (Thanks to Rigor for the suggestions and SirKills for the reinforcement.

The one thing I DIDN'T do was uninstall energy, and for that I have my own reasons, simply by playstyle choice.

Like I said, just a personal recommendation . I always keep about 600 energy minimum, that way it never caps while I sleep. Uninstall a few cheap weapons and I can throw on all my other energy stuff before ranking.

Also, I'm hoping the tradeoff in stats (minimal attack, hull, defense, and cloak for more pure defense) was worth it?

Attack: -213
Hull: -480
Cloak: Almost all of it gone
Defense: Approximately +800

Hull and cloak I might be a little upset about, but you really can't argue that the increase in defense is pretty nice.

If you really want the cloak, there are definitely more efficient options than the Anomaly Engines .

On the assumption that I don't want to use researched mods, would Hypergrid Cores be the optimal choice? (Considering I'm using scan anyway)

If you have them, Triaxial Array IIs and Zolazin Jammers would work best. Otherwise (I'm assuming you don't have Senary Frames and CipherBots), the Hypergrid Cores would be your best bet, and they also give you that little bit extra of scan.

The Triaxials are a good idea, I might hop on that. I'd have to disagree with Jammers though, they've got a terrible rate.

The Jammers have a slightly better rate (and I mean very slightly) in pure cloaking than the Hypergrid Cores, so it depends on what you want exactly. If you only want cloak, the Jammers are a small bit more bang for your buck, though I'd say the additional scan on the Hypergrid Cores makes them more worthwhile overall.

Sentrys ftw size 40 for 180 scan / cloak

Continuum parsers. 80 attack, cloak, and scan for 30 decks

How many tac officers on the ship?