I Can't help you too much about the Different Story arcs, But I can definitely help you about the Stats, you can view the Exact stats on Ships & Modules in the Game Files (Game\Carcasses.xml - For Ships) & (Game\Modules.xml - For Modules&Equipment)
Best Program to open these is Probably Notepad++
Code:
<hit_points>1000000</hit_points> <-- HP
<mass>200</mass> <-- Mass (affects speed)
<disable_trade>false</disable_trade>
<cost>50</cost> <-- Cost (For the Tradestations)
<max_energy>2</max_energy> <-- Shield Points
<energy_restore>1</energy_restore> <-- Shield Restoration per Second
<max_speed>0.1</max_speed> <-- Speed
<maneurability>0</maneurability><-- Maneurability
<sensor_resolution>0.38</sensor_resolution> <-- Part of the Radar
<sensor_length>25</sensor_length> <-- Also Part of the Radar
<threat/> <-- Threat (IIRC It defines how much XP the Player gets when it destroys this Object)
<HolderProperties>
<big_guns/> <-- Bigguns Amount
<small_guns/> <-- Smallguns Amount
<rockets/> <-- Rockets Amount
<systems>1</systems> <-- Modules/Systems Amount
<turrets/> <-- Turrets Amount
<gk_guns/> <-- GK Guns Amount (AI Only in Vanilla Unmodded Game)
<gk_turrets/> <-- GK Turrets Amount (AI Only in Vanilla Unmodded Game)
</HolderProperties>
<level>1</level> <-- Required Pilot Level to Control this Ship
There was some kind of List around here somewhere in an Thread, Dunno where it is tho.
Hope it helps