This is not what rule says. Escort rules still apply, because Freelancer is hired and acts in defense of his employer. Something is very wrong in here then, because if we followed that rule making defence = combat - which is extension of Rule 4 of BH&FH - every escorting is combat, meaning Freelancer ID cannot help Miner ID or other Freelancer ID despite it being hired by them, due to the fact they are generic IDs.
