I can't seem to get the timing rules for this combo straight in my head. If Hobbie uses PTL to aquire a target lock will it clear the stress from PTL, or does the stress not get assigned until after the target lock is aquired?

Stress from PTL is not acquired until PTL has completed.

He takes an a focus, then he takes a TL. Then the stress hits. Hobbies ability doesn't trigger the removal of stress because he doesn't have the stress when he gets the TL. During combat if he spends the TL he would remove the stress then.

Hobie can't ditch the stress from PTL by taking a TL using an action from PTL. He can ditch it by spending that target lock.

This does not work, as mentioned above. You can spend the target lock to clear stress gained from StressBot on the same attack tho.

You could also, as mentioned above, just clear it during your attack, assuming you got a bead on your target-lock-ee.

Ok, thats what I was thinking. Thanks for the input guys.