After arriving back at the base from the previous mission, you will be approached by one of the remaining vessels from Hoffer's escort patrol, they learn that Hoffer has been kidnapped and is given the last known location of Hoffer where he was ambushed in Osprey...
1) You should fly to the waypoint that Smith brings up.
3) Upon arriving at the location, you will find the debris of Hoffer's escorts as well as a remaining vessel (the vessel ‘Flambé'.) They will warn the player as 2 Maas vessels attack the player. These should be destroyed and then the player should dock to Flambé.
4) Upon docking, you will be given the background and encryption codes to Hoffer's distress beacon. Undocking from the ship will lead to Smith picking up a signal from Hoffer's beacon and then placing a waypoint at the origin. You should fly towards this.
5) Upon arriving at this point, you will discover the origin of the signal was from a garbage truck. Getting close to the vessel will result in it being interrogated and the vessel telling you it has just returned back from the military base in the New Bavaria system. You should head for the New Bavaria system where a waypoint relating to Hoffer's location is set up on the contact list.
6) As you get close to the location, a cut scene will kick in showing you the alien device being activated and a lot of the ships (including the one holding Hoffer) being infected by the alien infestations.
7) Target Hoffer's vessel (this will appear as mission critical on your contact list) and fly quickly towards it and dock (you will have about 1 minute as indicated by Clay.)
8) Hoffer will board and tell you to get out of here - do as he says
9) Fly away from the area and head towards the Osprey system.
10) Once you enter the Osprey system, you will encounter another vessel and Hoffer will give you a briefing. You are free to return to your base.