I've decided to go back to the Texas System, specifically the Pequena Negre and Grande Negra to take additional measurements for the feasibility of expansion to the Texas System.
Disregarding any tactical, logistical and geographical advantages which I will get to later, here are the measurements I have been able to take.
Pequena Negra:
The immediate edge of the cloud down to roughly halfway to the center:
Density of the Radiation = ~50 000 Gy
Radiation Energy = ~500 000 000 mSv
Halfway from the center to the near center:
Density of the Radiation = ~70 000 Gy
Radiation Energy = ~830 000 000 mSv
Immediate center:
Density of the Radiation = ~150 000 Gy
Radiation Energy = ~970 000 000 mSv
As you near the center, pockets of weaker radiation are scattered throughout the place. It would make for easier retreats if the worst comes to worst if we could map these pockets more accurately so that we would know routes with less risk of Radiation exposure that our enemies wouldn't know about. Additionally, the density of the Debris would make transit of bigger enemy ships much more difficult which is also very advantageous for us.
Grande Negra:
The immediate edge of the cloud down to roughly halfway to the center:
Density of the Radiation = ~250 000 Gy
Radiation Energy = ~970 000 000 mSv
Halfway from the center to the near center:
Density of the Radiation = ~330 000 Gy
Radiation Energy = ~1 400 000 000 mSv
Immediate center:
Density of the Radiation = ~440 000 Gy
Radiation Energy = ~2 000 000 000 mSv
Composition: 100% Alpha Radiation
Keep in mind that the most radiation-hardened electronics can survive radiations up to 1 000 000 000 mSv before starting to behave weirdly or outright stop working making building a base anywhere else but the very edge of the Grande Negra an impossible endeavor. I couldn't stay there for long at all, all my systems were going on the Fritz shortly after even entering the cloud and I had to make an immediate detour to Beaumont Base for repairs. The radiation composition of the cloud also makes it extremely inhospitable for life. A single breach of the hull would give a lethal dose of Alpha Radiation on the spot.
From these readings alone, the Pequena Negra has the clear advantage over it's tougher cousin, Grande Negra. With enough work and resources, it would be feasible to have a base in Pequena Negra while the Grande Negra would likely eat at the hull faster than we could maintain it and I am sure not many transports would even be ready to send resources our way with their hull being totally stripped clean just on the trip there.
Now if we get into the geographical, logistical and tactical advantages, the Pequena Negra also appears to have the edge.
Pequena Negra geographically speaking has proximity to several strategical points. It's proximity to several Jump Holes leading to active zone of operations would be a great asset. With Jump Holes to Pennsylvania, New York and California nearby. With those, we could easily monitor and control movements coming from or to Texas. Additionally, it would make a great staging ground and resupply point as well as provide timely reinforcements to the frontlines to any of these 3 systems.
There is also a nearby Junker Base called Beaumont Base. Most likely mining the Scraps and Premium Scraps found around the Pequene Negra. Our proximity to these fields and their base would make business excessively easy, business that we would need for several reasons. Not only can we turn Texas into a steady stream of income for the Lane Hackers but the Junkers could also easily transfer us any resources we might need for maintenance on the base.
Our Proximity (Albeit slightly farther than the Grande Negra) to LPI Sugarland, which I have uncovered earlier from a LN operative that this is where they transit their Prisoners, could be of interest. With a foothold in this system, we could realistically hit up Prisoner Convoys on their way in and out of LPI Sugarland. This would make it a real pain for the lawfuls and additionally, with monetary incentives, it would be quite easy to set up ambushes on convoys for certain people would rather they not reach LPI Sugarland.
Now for Grande Negra, to be honest, not only is this Dark Matter cloud completely inhospitable, the only proximity it has is to the LPI Sugarland and a few jump holes that are not exactly worth our concern as of now. This really reduces the incentive of even thinking about establishing a foothold there, not to mention the immense logistical nightmare simply maintaining ships and a station there would be for just a day. In clouds like these, consistent freights are key and I really have my doubts on anyone that would even want to ship anything to the Grande Negra.
I don't have much to say about the Grande Negra, it's a hell hole, there's nothing there of interest, it's dangerous, simply making a base there would use up more resources and manpower than we would care to spend.
In the end, these are all my opinions but the Pequena Negra heavily wins my favor for it has an infinite number of advantages over it's, quite frankly, ridiculously dangerous bigger cousin.
![[Image: CRk8fDf.png]](http://i.imgur.com/CRk8fDf.png)
![[Image: Interruptor.png]](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff420/Infitrative/The%20Lane%20Hackers/Ranks/Interruptor.png)