I have a question for Dizzy.
My wing and I go into a battle vs a player. That player has a CA and is given an AI wing under his control with his name on it. We take out the 2 ships. Do we post the kill as only the CA or as his loss of the CA and the controlled AI?
Very good question.
It is arguably easier to take out one or both ships of a single person flying them than two others each commanding their own vessels, all ships being roughly equal. And while ideally we want to completely strip AI, AI will make a game when there would otherwise be none. Seldom do we get AI in missions, but it does happen and for added flavor.
I fought earlier with Krueg and Soth vs myself, Kraven and DH. Krueg had two ships of which one was exactly as described by you above. Soth and Krueg both died as did his wing, but we counted only 2 VC's, as it would be unfair to ask of him to take the liability of using fleet command on an unsupplied ship. Would that ship have not been there, the two likely would have fled before us and no battle whatsoever would have taken place. It should be noted that their AI wing did give them some help as I was reduced to a smoldering drifting hulk in that mission and was towed all the way back to drydock without power.
I'd have to say that risks must be taken and not all AI draws will be alike, balanced or equal in any fashion, but you play the cards as they fall to you... or you fold and get out. One other example would be the battle I had with Hexx. We engaged the other in a 3 on 3 each with two AI wings with which one of my frigates charged far ahead hard into his line of ships and perished quite quickly. This led to a 3 on two for some time. Eventually Hexx came up a little short and I took the edge eventually destroying him and all his AI. I did not report the kill, however, as he was in a .5 move cost ship despite the fact he had AI wings. My ship was worth one VC, but in the end it comes down to what you want to risk. I chose to risk losing a PvP VC and gain none just so I could make sure Hexx knows who is taller. I think that is what each captain is faced with when they see their opponent and the ships they fly. Do you wish to engage? Will you take the risk?
In both examples, both prior to your asking this question, were ruled that no, AI does not count toward PvP VC's unless actually purchased by that player in question. I hope this is agreable to all. It makes the few battles with AI more interesting by far. That 3v3 with Hexx was perhaps one of my more entertaining PvP missions thus far this server.