Thanks. As I don't have any experience with NPRs I don't know where the line is between
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouAreNotReady and
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CrazyPrepared so my default action is to err towards the latter.
After my encounter with ruins and an alien wreck my exploration protocol is as follows:
Dispatch a Scout carrier to the warp point in question, which will get there ahead of the jump gate construction ship.
Cato 2 class Scout Carrier 2,400 tons 43 Crew 254.3 BP TCS 48 TH 42 EM 0
2500 km/s JR 1-50 Armour 1-15 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maint Life 3.59 Years MSP 66 AFR 46% IFR 0.6% 1YR 8 5YR 119 Max Repair 26.25 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 22 months Flight Crew Berths 28
Hangar Deck Capacity 1000 tons
J2400(S6) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 2400 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 1
60 EP 50% 6HS Stealth IF Drive (2) Power 60 Fuel Use 6.65% Signature 21 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 70,000 Litres Range 78.9 billion km (365 days at full power)
Strike Group
1x Clouseau T2 Scout Fighter Speed: 6315 km/s Size: 7.6
1x Clouseau E2 Scout Fighter Speed: 6315 km/s Size: 7.6
1x Double Dutch Jump Scout Speed: 8843 km/s Size: 2.94
1x Smart Rock Recon Satellite Speed: 1 km/s Size: 0.14
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
First through the jump point is the jump scout - its job is to see if the warp point is occupied, and if it is to hopefully dodge beam fire long enough to get some sort of read on what we will face in the system.
Double Dutch class Jump Scout 147 tons 2 Crew 38.4 BP TCS 2.94 TH 26 EM 0
8843 km/s JR 1-50 Armour 1-2 Shields 0-0 Sensors 2/4/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
Maint Life 0 Years MSP 0 AFR 29% IFR 0.4% 1YR 2 5YR 23 Max Repair 13 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 0.5 months Spare Berths 0
J300(1-50) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 300 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 1
130% Fighter 26 EP IF Drive (1) Power 26 Fuel Use 76.31% Signature 26 Exp 13%
Fuel Capacity 10,000 Litres Range 16.0 billion km (21 days at full power)
FTR Active Search MR2-R20 (1) GPS 72 Range 2.9m km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH0.2-2 (1) Sensitivity 2 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 2m km
EM Detection Sensor EM0.2-3.6 (1) Sensitivity 3.6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 3.6m km
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
Assuming the jump point is clear the carrier jumps in and releases the scout fighter wing
Clouseau E2 class Scout Fighter 380 tons 11 Crew 113.4 BP TCS 7.6 TH 16.8 EM 0
6315 km/s Armour 1-4 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/36/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0.6
Maint Life 9.02 Years MSP 37 AFR 5% IFR 0.1% 1YR 1 5YR 12 Max Repair 36 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 0
85% 1HS Stealth 16 EP IF Drive (3) Power 16 Fuel Use 22.67% Signature 5.6 Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres Range 62.7 billion km (114 days at full power)
FTR Gauss Cannon R4-10 (1x4) Range 40,000km TS: 6315 km/s Accuracy Modifier 10% RM 4 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S00.2 40-2500 (FTR) (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 10000 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
FTR Active Search MR2-R20 (1) GPS 72 Range 2.9m km Resolution 20
EM Detection Sensor EM2-36 (1) Sensitivity 36 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 36m km
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
Clouseau T2 class Scout Fighter 380 tons 11 Crew 99.4 BP TCS 7.6 TH 16.8 EM 0
6315 km/s Armour 1-4 Shields 0-0 Sensors 22/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0.6
Maint Life 9.15 Years MSP 33 AFR 5% IFR 0.1% 1YR 1 5YR 11 Max Repair 22 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 0
85% 1HS Stealth 16 EP IF Drive (3) Power 16 Fuel Use 22.67% Signature 5.6 Exp 8%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres Range 62.7 billion km (114 days at full power)
FTR Gauss Cannon R4-10 (1x4) Range 40,000km TS: 6315 km/s Accuracy Modifier 10% RM 4 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S00.2 40-2500 (FTR) (1) Max Range: 80,000 km TS: 10000 km/s 88 75 62 50 38 25 12 0 0 0
FTR Active Search MR2-R20 (1) GPS 72 Range 2.9m km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH2-22 (1) Sensitivity 22 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22m km
This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
They head to any potentially habitable worlds and gas giants looking for the EM/Thermal signatures of alien colonies or ships. They are fast enough to do an initial scan prior to completion of the jump gate, allowing its cancellation to give the fleet time to move to the area. In the event of war their mission is harassment of unescorted enemy shipping - in particular sorium harvesters.
If there are no bodies available for DSTS placement, I drop a recon satellite to gather and relay sensor buoy information (which establishes a system presence to ensure detection is triggered). I should probably include a jump engine on them to explain how the relay works, even though that would make them much larger.
Smart Rock class Recon Satellite 7 tons 1 Crew 4.4 BP TCS 0.14 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s Armour 1-0 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 0
MSP 0 AFR 1% IFR 0% Max Repair 10 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 0
SR Active Search Sensor 70/640K-R1 (1) GPS 4 Range 640k km MCR 70k km Resolution 1
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes