From: Charles Alestone, Chief of R & D, Star Enterprises
To: Whom It May Concern, the Kusari Navy
Subj: Ames Research Station and the home porting of capital class ships
Good day, I am inquiring into the possibility of clarification of acquiring a permit or waver for having Star Enterprises' research ship, [Star]-Sleipnir to home port in the Kepler system at Ames Research Station. The ship is not presently assigned there, nor is she presently moored.
The reason for this request is that Sleipnir is a custom built research ship built on a Zoner Destroyer hull. She is the smallest class of vessel capable of supporting the sensor suite we use in our research. She is not outfitted as warship, using Solaris turrets because of the additional sensor capability they provide, and is only armored to withstand radiation hazards she may encounter in her travels, rated to UAU-7. From a combat perspective, she is, at best, an oversized anti-snub gunboat.
We ask if there is some possibility that we can be granted an authorization per Section 5-1: Spacecraft Directives to operate within Kusari space. Star is willing to pay a fee for a license, file flight plans, etc. Our only limitation would be that, as a private corporation, we not be considered some form of military auxiliary for Kusari.
I thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
To reach a final decision for your request we will need you to provide a list with all installed equipment on the ship.
Additionally we will need to know where and how often you will traverse Kusari.
Please also provide us with information regarding the research you intend to do on this ship.
Defenses:
Fortress CM Dropper
Cruiser Molecular Shield
Armor Upgrade Mk VII
Equipment:
Advanced Deep Scanner
Hyperspace Survey Module Mk II
Enhanced Thruster
Our transit intentions would only be intermittent in relation to the fulfillment of specific research requirements. If it would make matters more convenient, we could file flight plans prior to making passage through Kusari. I cannot be more specific than that since we ourselves have no established itinerary. Sleipnir is not used for scheduled or routine flights, such as cargo carrying or combat patrols.
Research with Sleipnir revolves around stellar phenomena such as gravity wells, stellar fusion, dark matter and other physical processes relating to energy generation. While she is outfitted with an Hyperspace Survey scanner, we have no plans for conducting surveys within Kusari.
If the government wishes, however, Sleipnir can conduct hyperspace surveys and present the data to the KNF. All that would be required is that fuel for the scanner be provided via an escort fueler. Sleipnir is incapable of carrying sufficient fuel to conduct surveys by herself. If Kusari does not want this service performed, Star will honor that intention.