Targeting:
toggle auto targeting:
When auto targeting is on, your ship will automatically target the next nearby hostile when you destroy your current target.
target subsystem: (what's subsystem?)
Subsystems are the weapons, sensors, comm, FTL, and engines on large ships - battlestars, base stars, transports, so on.
target next uninspected cargo: (cargo?? what have I got to do with cargo? a cargoship?)
Not important in either FreeSpace or Diaspora, really.
the difference between throttle, thrust, and afterburner please
Your throttle is your ship's gas pedal - how fast are you telling the ship to go? Full throttle puts you at maximum forward thrust. Zero throttle puts you at a stop. Afterburner is a really important button that gives you a momentary huge speed boost.
the difference between turning and banking
Turning moves your ship's nose left to right, like turning a car on the street. Banking
rolls your ship around its long axis.
right thrust:
down thrust:
These thrust commands fire thrusters on the sides of your ship to kick your ship in those directions without having to move the nose.
Gliding:
When in glide mode, you can move your ship's nose without altering your flight vector. Without glide mode, you fly normally, like an airplane - moving the nose alters your ship's flight vector.
Attack my target: (is this a chat message only? feels that way)
Same for Disable, Disarm, Capture
Engage Enemy:
Attack my subsystem:
Form on my wing:
Ignore my Target:
Cover me:
Return to base:
Rearm me:
(All seem like chat-only things)
These are not chat messages. These are commands given to your AI wingmen. They can be pretty vital in FreeSpace; some of them are also important in Diaspora.
Chase view:
Free look view:
Current Target View:
These are camera commands. Chase view toggles your camera between your cockpit and the outside of your ship.
Communication Menu:
This opens the menu you use to give commands to your AI wingmen.
You would probably pick all this stuff up by playing the tutorial with keyboard/mouse.