Here's the .vhd and the .iso produced from it. (Rebel Assault is missing to conserve space)
https://mega.nz/#!99RlRAIQ!GbmzKICyr...HJ402V12v431gw
As for POP2... I was going to recommend turning off scsi devices 2-6 (silly I know) but I gave POP2 a go before that..
And guess what it stayed on the "ship screen" just like before and eventually died with a black screen.
I guess it was just pure luck.