== Extract from R&D Division Report: Evaluation of Cruiser-Class Efficiency in C1 Systems ==
The expedition has completed the first phase of an experiment focused on permanent solo habitation in a Class 1 wormhole system using a cruiser-class vessel. The initial concept relied on a mobile depot and a cargo container to enable rapid switching between two fittings: a scanning configuration and a combat configuration.
Summary conclusions: the concept has been deemed non-viable; however, a simpler and more practical approach has been identified.
Results of Phase One Testing
In addition to minor logistical issues—such as the loss of a cargo container that broke free from its anchor and drifted irretrievably into deep space—the expedition encountered three major strategic limitations:
- Limited combat effectiveness of the cruiser.
Testing confirmed that a T1 cruiser lacks sufficient firepower to complete all combat anomalies in C1 systems. The most challenging sites, whose difficulty approaches that of lower-tier C2 anomalies, proved particularly problematic.
While the ship’s tank was adequate to withstand the first two waves—allowing the combat pilot to disengage safely without risking hull loss—the third and final wave required significantly greater damage output and survivability. Calculations indicate that a T1 battlecruiser should be able to clear these anomalies without critical difficulty. - Insufficient hacking capability.
Even when using specialized T1 scanning frigates, virus strength and coherence are not always sufficient to reliably hack data and relic sites within the C1–C3 range. In a cruiser-based scanning fit, hacking attempts were assessed as impractical and economically unjustified. - Inefficient refitting logistics.
Refitting via a mobile depot was found to be inefficient. The time required to swap fittings exceeds that of switching to an alternate pilot. Moreover, the presence of a dedicated scanning alt within the system is considered mandatory for operational security: in the event of wormhole collapse, it is the only reliable means of locating a route back to the home system.
It was also determined that the total number of combat and exploration anomalies in C1 systems is insufficient even for a single active pilot. Over the long term, this renders the deployment of a permanent base (POS) in such systems impractical. Relocation to a Class 2 wormhole is therefore recommended.
== End of R&D Division Report Extract ==
The Admiral dimmed the report display and paused to reflect. A new wormhole operational model was beginning to take shape: a combination of a powerful battlecruiser for combat operations and a separate alt pilot dedicated to scanning and hacking, with modules and loot stored in a single shared cargo container.
The mobile depot might still serve a purpose—as a tool for refitting the combat ship into a salvage configuration—but this would require a separate assessment of potential profitability.
The next logical step would be to integrate ore and gas harvesting into the operation and, with it, to address the question of transportation. Once mining and gas extraction are introduced, cargo volumes increase sharply. Only after resolving these issues would it make sense to seriously consider relocation to a C2 system and the deployment of a permanent base.