Per request, this is a better example of what I was talking about regarding using heavy ships in a sort of jumbled "phalanx" to keep each other covered. We have some better numbers on our side in this one which I think helps to illustrate it a little better. Everyone is switching targets constantly in order to keep the defense solid.

Maalik is still a slippery little bugger though =P He actually flies right between two of my flares at one point.

From the 9/25 Nation War: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHmr_zoiSEg

We've been having success with this tactic for awhile, though this was the first time it really held together in the face of enemy contact. Was something E r e b u s taught me a long time ago.