The beacon on the sector map
This random event occurs in:
at a distress beacon in an asteroid field. The Long-Ranged Scanners will detect 
no ship presence. This event can occur only once per sector.
Your jump interrupts a Zoltan security ship as it follows a Mantis pirate into an asteroid field. They message you, "Your presence here will continue to be tolerated - but please, do not interfere."
- Interfere and save the Mantis ship.
- Sometimes you have to bet on the underdog - even on the rare occasions that the underdog is a Mantis warship. You set off for the heart of the asteroid field and engage the Zoltan there.
- Fight a Zoltan ship.
- (After destroying enemy ship) The Mantis are so grateful that they only take three quarters of the loot, leaving the rest for you. How civilized.
- You receive low scrap with resources.
- (After killing enemy crew) The Mantis are so grateful that they only take three quarters of the loot, leaving the rest for you. How civilized.
- You receive medium scrap with resources.
- (After destroying enemy ship) The Mantis are so grateful that they only take three quarters of the loot, leaving the rest for you. How civilized.
- Fight a Zoltan ship.
- Sometimes you have to bet on the underdog - even on the rare occasions that the underdog is a Mantis warship. You set off for the heart of the asteroid field and engage the Zoltan there.
- Interfere and help the Zoltan ship.
- You overtake the Zoltan and catch up with the Mantis ship in the asteroid belt. Time to make some friends.
- Fight a Mantis ship with crew entirely composed of Mantis.
- (After destroying enemy ship) As you're salvaging the Mantis wreck the Zoltan security patrol returns with three other ships. You quickly salvage what you can and set off before they can stop you for questioning.
- You receive low scrap with resources.
- (After killing enemy crew) As you're salvaging the Mantis wreck the Zoltan security patrol returns with three other ships. You quickly salvage what you can and set off before they can stop you for questioning.
- You receive medium scrap with resources.
- (After destroying enemy ship) As you're salvaging the Mantis wreck the Zoltan security patrol returns with three other ships. You quickly salvage what you can and set off before they can stop you for questioning.
- Fight a Mantis ship with crew entirely composed of Mantis.
- You overtake the Zoltan and catch up with the Mantis ship in the asteroid belt. Time to make some friends.
- Don't interfere.
- The Zoltan know their business better than most - best to leave them to it. You prepare to jump.
- Nothing happens.
- The Zoltan know their business better than most - best to leave them to it. You prepare to jump.
Trivia[]
This event is called "ZOLTAN_DISTRESS_MANTIS" in the datafiles.