I'm very curious what is going to happen to the rival, because she(calling her she) from what I understand is no longer a threat? I haven't finished the stuff yet, I just read it somewhere, but apparently she herself FAILED to get the Myrellion probe, right? like BADLY failed? meaning that both she AND Dane are weaker than you at that point?(it's NOT like the Pokemon rival, where she'd be stronger like you are) so unless she gets a super equipment upgrade, or super mercenary upgrade, she'd never make it to "late game" like you will. So does that mean you'll end up dealing with the rival prior to the actual end of the game, with some other bigger things coming into play towards the end? instead of her?
Also, I will say that I'm on the "I WANT the rival" boat, which I hope there's a decent amount of options regarding that when(I HOPE "when") it comes up, because while some want to kill the rival, and others may want to "violate" and discard her, I and I think a lot of others want more from her, like letting her be your companion(or forcing her to be) romantic or otherwise, or you being hers(though in that case I'm not sure if that'd end the game, or if the game would still play normally, but like you're on her ship). And I am certain that the rival does not hate you or want you dead, nothing about how she treats you makes me think "she treats everyone else nicer than this", and if she did want you dead, she COULD have killed you in the beginning of the game, so it's obviously something she doesn't "want", despite the fact that it'd make things easier for her.
(topic is a lil old, but better to comment on it than make a new one, I figure)