I too am having issues logging in. It keeps on saying there is an error, and it needs looking at. Plus, when I try to log in to my character, it says there is an error. Is this the issue you're talking about?
I'm not happy that some ships have to be bought on the C Store. I might not be able to afford it. It creates two classes of players, which is unfair. I recommend removing ships from the C store, and making them free.
I have the exact same problem as you lot have, but this time, it's in the Klingon episode with the death of Hakeev in it. When I try to move on to the part Icon of the Empire, it says "couldn't transfer character". PLEASE, Brandon, can you do something about it? Shall we press the case to Brandon directly?