Who Can I Rob?

Hi All,
Just started playing this week and I’m already frustrated. I’m about half way thru the first Act (I Think, based on things I’ve read in other posts) and am allied with both the Stepson’s clan and the legue. I’ve also just saved Hoffers Wake Control (An Independant Station). Dosen’t that mean that I should’nt rob any legue or independant convoys. It just dosen’t make sense to me to be helping/joining them one minute and then robbing them the next. If this is right how the hell do I get the corp. convoys their escorts always kill me 10 secs after firing my first shots at them. I just don’t think my poor little tug is upto taking on 6 interceptors and 4 corvettes all at the same time. (And of course if you do manage by some miracle to kill them all, I’ve only done this once, you then have to deal with the back-up they FTL’d for.

I love the game just as much, maybe more than, the orig, But I’d like to start upgrading my ships offences/defences but can’t get the goods to trade. I hope someone can help.