So, the rank grind by assaulting the planetary base in Cubeo is going fairly well. Saw a few un-friended CMDRs in Mobius there too.
I also think I may have learned something: base defenses respawn quicker (Immediately?) when a new CMDR approaches.
I had parked my Gunship on the landing pad at the base, and drove to the data comm terminal (I've finally gotten those working), finished up, and as I'm driving back, my helpless ship is getting pwnd, even though I just killed everything in the area a minute or two prior. I notice on the drive back (which takes what, 30 seconds?) there's another hollow dot somewhere nearby, and make it into my ship, which now has about 20% hull.
I was hoping to hop in and boost away to safety... that didn't happen. It was kind of like getting a fast-travel back to the station to turn in missions for the low, low, price of 2 million credits though.

Normally, I have AT LEAST 5 minutes of safety after clearing the area at that base, as I've never had trouble exploring it in the SRV trying to find any other data terminals, and being very inefficient about it (and flipping the buggy a lot.)
So I'm thinking I may conduct my base assaults in Solo now, just in case. I've been cycling the boards anyway, so I'll just land somewhere different before I head out.
It's a shame though, as I'd be happy to help another CMDR otherwise.