Occasionally, you'll encounter freighters under attack by pirates. While not a 'boss' in the traditional sense, successfully defending a freighter can be challenging and rewarding. The goal is to destroy all pirate ships without damaging the freighter or its cargo pods.
Strategy: Prioritize the pirate ships. Use your most powerful starship weapons. Be careful with your aim to avoid hitting the freighter's vulnerable cargo pods, as this will reduce your reward and standing. If you accidentally hit a cargo pod, you'll incur a bounty. Once all pirates are destroyed, fly into the freighter's hangar to claim your reward, which often includes a chance to acquire the freighter itself for free (first rescue) or valuable resources and standing.