I use Darkner whenever I have to field skirmishers, I don't always expect them to survive but I do expect them to justify themselves in terms of giving and taking punishment. The Maximus is a blind, it's high hull and interceptors make it good at absorbing damage, but it's ability to deal it out is very ordinary. Remember, the opposition is Ka'Tan, Ka'Toc, Warbird, Olympus, Drakh Raiders- heavy weapon ships, and the Maximus simply isn't. The rest, feh. The Kutai and Amar are just bad jokes, I've been luckier with Morgrath than their stats deserved, the Vorchar is a ship without a mission, but I have to admit I prefer the Vorchat to Vorchan, partly because of the fighter flight.