I didnt think the Colonial Viper was a Non-Combatant ship. Sure a civilian ship can have defences, but it shouldnt be able to outperform military ships with many times its own funding. The only reason a ship could do that is if it had *alien technology* (which is the Viper). Civilians do not have access to this technology but Zoners (who gather it) do.
Zoners certainly arent Non-Combatant as they ask to be smacked on the chin by the Nomads every time they go into Delta or Unknown (Gamma).