I'm so stuck on this too. I've beaten the kobayashi Maru but can't figure out how this one works! The hint is to alter the battle with the elder via global effects, but the only global effects I can find are either for altering speed (helmsman and smuggler) driller production (tycoon) or the general and security officer, which combined still leave 11 drillers on the elders sub... The second wave of hires could take care of the infiltrator sub, but there's nothing in there with global effects. but a pirate is needed to target it. I've tried using the smuggler to get the inspector in before the elder, nothing works what ami missing!
Isolate, simplify, complete.