There should be two modes in which players can pilot a trident:

Combat mode - When you dock at you trident, you remain in the ship that you docked in, and can quickly repair, refill, and undock.

Combat mode off - When you dock at your trident, you are automatically piloting the trident.

This can easily be accomplished with a "/" command, as trident pilots will be more than competent enough to find and use it.

EDIT: Name can be changed from "Combat" mode to whatever. That name seems kinda dumb and not as descriptive actually, so feel free to suggest a better name.

+1 Although I am not yet a dent pilot and have yet to experience the problem described. Soon!

+1 after a bit of in-game persuasion :-P

+1 much like there is an auto dock feature, there should be an auto-commandeer feature that can be toggled

I think we can make a plugin for this.

Before someone screams at me "doesn't mean it shouldn't be a feature!" I'll also point out that the devs know what is and isnt doable with the existing api and they rarely implement interface features outside of a major content update. The best bet to getting this is through a plugin.

Good suggestion.

I have tried relentlessly to find the location on this "control ship" button that is in the operations tab. I've even had others try to find it for me.

I have "found" the supposed location of the button as well, but when I try the ".clickbutton" method for the button object, I get nothing.

If anyone else has had success with this, please let me know!!!

+1 The benefits of this extend beyond combat imo.

Edit:
I would suggest adding that the combat mode should default to the hanger section so that players can quickly change ship selection as well. Of course I'd like to see a general streamlining of the entire trident interface so that the key actions an owner wants to take can be handled effectively from one central screen