Will we be able to manage hired NPCs? For Example, can I tell them to take my Constellation to a set planet, drop off some goods, then come back without me aboard? Or, can I put them in a hornet I own and set them to escort a ship I'm on?asked by Eddy

So yes you'll definitely be able to manage hired NPCs, not quite sure about exactly the level of fidelity in terms of micro management. Even back in the Wing Commander days you'd be able to have wingmen "Attack My Target" or "Form Up On My Wing" etc, so you'll definitely be able to issue commands to your wingmen. You'll also be able to issue higher level goals like, "Ok I'm hiring you, your mission is to protect my freelancer ship" so you can have a couple of mercenaries to fly on your wing to make sure you get from point A to point B and you could hire NPCs to say take a cargo from one place to another place and other various stuff like that. We're going to try to make it as high fidelity as possible, but at the very least you're going to be able to hired them to run missions for you, hired them to protect you, and you'll be able to give them more specific combat-influenced commands.