I'm running a whisper+ miniswarm.

Because of iniative I have 56 points left for the miniswarm

Howl+juke

3x academy

Howl + crack

3x academy

Howl + determine

3x academy

Is there another option I'm missing?

Maybe get awak from howl and try one of the new pilots?

I tried howl and 3 obsideons but at 100 points I lost iniative too often for whisper. And most of the time I broke the swarm up to block and action deny aces anyway for whisper to hit so I figure the academy downgrade isn't the end of the world even though it drops me to below the rebel ps2 meta.

If mixed PS doesn't worry you (it doesn't worry me) I'd be partial to using 1 x Academy, 2x Obsidian and Howlie.

You get a blocker, you get the rerolls and you get 2x PS 3's that fire before TLTs, along with Howl.

3 crackshot Omegas fits nicely.

or you can drop one crack and get Epsilon "big man" Ace with a 1 point init bid.