The question then is, why don't the ships that emerge get destroyed when the gate goes up? That's a big blast. One easy answer is that the ships jump out of the area before it blows-- but then again, the engines on a capital ship can be shot away...

...disable the ships, blow the gate, and there are your kills.

Nonetheless, Moose's incessant calls of "C'mon! Shoot down those fighters now!" makes me want to shout back, "If you want the job done, either clam up or do it yourself! If the only thing you can do is compain, I'm so gonna drop this crate into the sun!"