LAST EDITED ON Feb-07-22 AT 01:24 PM (EST)
 
So class 2's are (IMO) kind of stupidly non-obvious about 'proper' removal methods. The trick is to flush the fuel and clear a path for the reactor to the barge. Don't touch the reactor itself or the coolant pipes just yet, but it's a good idea to yank the panels around the reactor and move anything that's in your way (except the aforementioned pipes).

Finally, flush the coolant. Flushing the coolant is handled at the ECU. If you pry the service panel off the ECU you'll find some coolant cylinders inside. Grab those and the reactor will enter controlled meltdown mode with a full health bar, giving you plenty of time to get back there and yank it free and tether/shove it into the barge.

The ship class really affects how you approach it, too. Geckos are harder than Javelins, generally -- the exception being I forget which one exactly but it has the reactor along one side rather than at the back. For that one you can get the reactor out safely in less than 5 minutes elapsed, assuming you win the depresssurization lottery (vent cockpit with sealed doors, open doors one-by-one back through ship).

Javelins are easy-peasy. Get back to the engine module, vent (the airlock method or the small-gap methods work best, depending on specific variant you're facing; I've found the rear cockpit method is bad on Javelins), flush fuel (not coolant), then cut the hull connectors and tether the entire back end back to the back wall. Barge the thruster. Cut the next section of hull connectors and tether the hull segment back to the back wall as well, then yank the panels from the reactor. Go flush the coolant and toss the reactor straight down into the barge. Again, less than 5 minutes.

I should note that the speed bit only matters if you're concerned with it; if you're going for maximum salvage, then take your time, salvage everything else first. Until you disconnect the coolant the reactor's going to wait patiently for you.

--sofaspud
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