Don't worry, the printed manual isn't much better, I've just always had a 'knack' for picking up programs fast.
It's interesting you are fighting Gorg, in the main game, you are against another corporation. Are you in the Angelwing ship or the Stilleto?
As for equipment, if it's there, it's before you enter the battle, at the map screen, along the bottom there are a selection of icons, one of the should be a screwdriver and spanner, which allows you to load your ship, on the screen it goes to there will then be a button marked 'configuration'. That (if it exists) will let you set up your ship. Also, in that screen, there is another button marked 'Squadrons' or somesuch, where you should be able to choose some fighers.