SCRA Communications Centre

[jammi]

CommID: Lieutenant Julio Quintillia
Message Source: Cloppenburg - Bremen
Message Target: SCRA Command
CC: Ontario "back door"

Hola mis camaradas revolucionarios!

Early yesterday, I departed from Zvezdny Gorodok on orders of comrade-Commissar Katz. I was to sweep the Minnesota and Quebec systems for potential base locations, then relay the findings back to Command. Apparently I have quite a reputation as a scout now... I'm afraid to say, my hopes for a SCRA held installation in either system is gloomy at best. My findings can be found below.

[font=System]Minnesota: The way to Minnesota can be found through Texas, but even from here, I began to have doubts from the system's viability as a staging point. The jump hole was protected by no fewer than eight (possibly more) weapon platforms, each with inbuilt sensor relays.

Evading their fire was no trouble at all for my Partisan, but the transports and freighters required to shuttle the resources required for construction would face grave danger. Upon jumping through, these problems were compounded by Moorhead Station, which looked to me like a refueling point. The advance warning from the Navy weapon platforms meant a Navy wing of Guardians had already been scrambled to meet me. I shook them off in the ice field that encompasses the entire system.

Throughout the system, there are numerous 'corridors' that have been cleared of asteroids and lined with Nav Beacons. Following these paths, I discovered another two permenant structures. The Universal Shipping run Saint Paul base, and Duluth Shipyard. With comrade-Commissar Katz's permission, I interdicted a Universal patrol and took a prisoner, to enquire as to Universal's activities in the system. He told me the bases were finaced by a group known as the 'KoF', but didn't seem to know much else. I suited him up, then dropped him on a patrol path on the edge of Duluth's weapon range.

Between Duluth and Sait Paul, there was a long range sensor relay that was probably either coordinating Navy actions within the system, letting them know where I was, or streaming communication between the two stations. I decided to cause trouble and destroy it, regardless of what it was doing.

After that, I followed the final corridor, and came under fire from the Liberty Dreadnought Minneapolis, which had been stationed by the Quebeck jump hole. Continuting to evade it's fire, I jumped through.

[font=System]Quebeck: Quebeck appears to be largely barren, with no natural cover in the form of asteroid fields or nebulae. Three planets and one moon orbit the system's sun. The jump hole to Minnesota was undefended, with neither patrols or weapon platforms being present, at that time.

Proceeding further into the system, I discovered the jumphole to New Hampshire behind Planet Montreal. It was also guarded by the Battleship Alma. There isn't really much to say about Quebeck... It's mostly lifeless.

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In summary, I'd say that neither system is appropriate for a construction site. Any construction convoys proceeding through Minnesota would be destroyed either before, or immediately after jumping in. Coupled with high Navy activity around both the system's entry points and the undetected infiltration of the system would become impossible. Patrols would simply trace our route, then destroy out structures as they found them.

Equally, Quebeck offers similarly dismal prospects. There are no solar objects we can use for cover, save for the planets themselves. While hiding in a planet's sensor-shadow might conceal us from the Alma, it's mobile patrols would find us, because of how close all three of the planets are. Not to mention they'd be informed of any convoy's approach, should they miraculously survive the journy through Minnesota.

I already checked through New Hamshire and Bremen too. Both systems are even harder to get through than Minnesota, because they are warzones between Rhienland and Liberty. If we are to increase our operations in those systems, I'd advise we simply strengthen our ties with the Bundsuchuh further, and use Cloppenburg in Bremen and launch snub craft from there. They were most obliging when I asked for a bunk.

Final note; I discovered something that our scientists may be interested in, and may want to find again in Omega 3.

That concludes my report. I hope it's contents are of use.

Adios mi comrades!
~Lieutenant Quintillia

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