BUTTERCUP - PASS - 55% transport on 25 jumps would bankrupt us and the 20% salvage would erase us from history
TSINGTAO - At least we would be close to home... - Not bad, we can clean up on the transport, and get 70% salvage with 100% BLC. Not good for RP reasons, but a solid contract. Short contract.
MARATHON - Not bad, close to the center, short contract. Basically the same as TSINGTAO but starts 40 days earlier for 10% lower salvage. Better for RP reasons.
SLAMMER - 100% salvage on A level garbage *whistle* (Forgot the reversed quality for forces), but IIRC pirate hunting has way higher random event chances, like a star league cache. Rob confirm?
DRAKE - Preston is 1 jump past Pella II, so it's really close. Planetary assaults have limited purchase opportunities IIRC, so we would need to stock up before the fight, but that is achievable with our current finances. 9 month contract is longer than others.
BARLEYCORN - Long Contract with cover for transportation.
I see MARATHON, SLAMMER, and DRAKE as potential winners. MARATHON is basically a repeat of RUNNING HORSE, which went well for us. SLAMMER is a change of pace and gamble in the heart of the FWL (it should be within 2 jumps of Atreus. DRAKE is a challenge mission.
Thoughts and preferences?