Side with the robots every time. That's how you get the broadsider connon. You get nothing from the scavengers and also ironsides is being attacked by them.
Well I meen it's kinda obvious because it's a ship with cannons. Also I'd hate let this guy go through this picking a side were it prevents you from getting a very nice weapon.
All I mean is a better explanation before anything was said would be better. Like "I know this might be a spoiler but you get such a good weapon if you do this and nothing if you do that, so keep reading at your own risk" or something like that.