I sent the message to Andrew. Basically, I sent the same questions as posted above to Andrew, to let him decide whether or not it may be a good idea. I had never intended to expend the drones, as you put it. Instead, I had hoped that there might be some mining tools that come with, but not part of, the drones that the probes themselves could use for defense (and offense if necessary to get Bette and/or Daniel back).
Taz