I am trying to come up with a mindlink list - one that is different from the current lists. mainly becuase I like 4 ship lists, also becuase I love the BMST Z. Here is the list:

Tansarii Point Veteran (17)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Tansarii Point Veteran (17)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Manaroo (27)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
K4 Security Droid (3)

Black Sun Soldier (13)
Black Market Slicer Tools (1)

Total: 99

Pretty straight forward, not much room for changes. Any thoughts? I could prob drop the Z to beef the other ships in a 3 ship build like this:

Tansarii Point Veteran (17)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Stealth Device (3)
"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Tansarii Point Veteran (17)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Stealth Device (3)
"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Manaroo (27)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Extra Munitions (2)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
K4 Security Droid (3)
R4-B11 (3)
Burnout SLAM (1)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 100

What looks better?

I've flown something very similar to your 2nd list. One thing I did not like about it was the torpedo on Manaroo. It hampered Manaroo's ability. So, I put the Punishing One on Manaroo, and I found it worked much better, although that means reducing the durability of the Scyks a tad (making them more obvious early targets for the enemy).

My version looks like this:

Manaroo w/ mindlink, punishing one, recon spec, R4 agromech & slicer tools = 46

TPV w/ mindlink, title & HLC = 27

TPV w/ mindlink, title & HLC = 27

I have played around with scyks and IMO you really want to stick to 4 ships as your first plan intended. It's because there are those games when ghost shoots you on R3, rolls natural 3 hits and a crit, scyk blanks out and that crit is double damage so even your evade can't save you. Actually it happened to me last four games. Every time first round one scyk lost.

Your first list looks fun but I wouldn't trust in second one. You may want to try also those two:

Contracted Scout (25)

I have done some tweaks and really like the Scyks. A 4 red dice, 4 green dice ship with 3 hull and 1 shield is pretty OK, may even be good. Was tooling around with the queen of all support ships Manaroo. Here is the next version:

Tansarii Point Veteran (17)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Stealth Device (3)
"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Tansarii Point Veteran (17)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Stealth Device (3)
"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Manaroo (27)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
K4 Security Droid (3)
R4-B11 (3)
Feedback Array (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

There are definitely some points to work with on Manaroo. The EPT (obviously) and K4 are pretty much stapled on, outside of that it is a moving target. R4B11 is nice, but more than likely for late game, early on she just passes the locks to the TPV with the best shot. EU/Feedback is to hopefully boost up and block, then zap if they do land on her.

Thoughts?

this is my take on a Mindlink list with 4 ships

N'Dru Suhlak (17)

Attani Mindlink (1)

Cloaking Device (2)

Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)

Kavil (24)

Attani Mindlink (1)

Blaster Turret (4)

Unhinged Astromech (1)

Zuckuss (28)

Attani Mindlink (1)

4-Lom (1)

Electronic Baffle (1)

Mist Hunter (0)

Tractor Beam (1)

Kaa'to Leeachos (15)

Attani Mindlink (1)

total points 100