Firstly, since this is looking for realism, you shouldn't be able to get within like 5k of a hostile base, since you'd be wtfpwn'd by patrols. You would get annihilated before you could even get that kill.
Secondly, the way I see it is that the base has super strong shields. When a cap docks, inRP the base is extending its shield over the cap.
[10:10:28 AM] Josh (Dejavu): Bauer is legendary to the LPI, I joined because I wanted to be that epic.