Getting Pirated by a freelancer

[The Savage]

The question was:

Can Freelancer defend Pirate from trader firing at him, while being hired as escort?

I was told that Bounty Hunting & Freelancer Hiring rules are not applicable to the situation, in which Freelancer is escorting another player - in this case: Pirate, helping him only in the situation if Pirate is fired upon. Other than that, Freelancer was said only to CD the trader, without being initially directly involved into assault onto trading vessel unless 1) freelancer being fired upon or 2) escorted vessel being fired upon.