Reconnoitre the Virginia system. Log all contacts and installations. Provide analysis of defensive capabilities and potential vulnerabilities.
Phase 1: Sectors A-D
Summary
During the first phase of reconnaissance in Virginia, using search pattern Epsilon, two planets, one gas giant (P1) and one possibly habitable planet (P2) surrounded by a minefield, were discovered. Besides the planets, a dense particle cloud in sectors A-D/6-7 containing a jumphole to Kansas system surrounded by a minefield and ice field in sectors A-C/1-3 containing a jumphole to California system, were found. Both jumpholes were heavily guarded by three battle-cruisers in total. No other hostile contacts or installations were encountered.
According to our records the only known jumphole leading to Virginia was located in Kansas system. For that reason I decided to take additional reserves of Hi-Fuel, as the jumphole is on the far side of the system. After jumping to Virginia I found myself in the dense particle cloud. Moreover, the jumphole was surrounded by a minefield. The only exit from the minefield was guarded by a heavily armed battle-cruiser. I disabled all systems of my ship and slowly drifted in the direction of the minefield's exit. Due to density of the particle cloud and small electronic shadow of my ship I was able to sneak by the battle-cruiser. When I got to a safe distance I decided to use search pattern Epsilon consisting from thirteen waypoints to scout sectors A-D. In the vicinity of first waypoint I found a gas giant, probably consisting of helium and hydrogen, but my ship was not capable of a more detailed survey. No installations in the orbit were found. At waypoint six I found possibly habitable planet surrounded by a minefield. Since, both, the planet and the minefield, lied in sectors D-F, I decided to postpone further investigation. Around tenth waypoint I entered an ice field, in the centre of which I found a jumphole guarded by two battle-cruisers. I decided not to risk sneaking by them and sent only an automatic probe to retrieve information where the jumphole leads to. To my great astonishment the probe returned coordinates in California. After I had returned to Magellan through Kansas I confirmed the readings from the probe. I refuelled my ship and prepared for the next stage of the mission.
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