The deflation idea come in at: IF Blimp ships are kept in freefall as much as possible the lift bags can be deflated freeing up room and allowing smaller passages and accessways etc.

Perhaps the mark of a 'spacer' amongst the blimps is a series of implanted deflation valves to get the liftbags as small as possible.

That and liquid acceleration tanks should help. But they're probably not going to be much chop as combat fighter pilots.

on the flipside, whats the cybernetic interface technology lwevel like?