Before Dave could reply Joe already started to speak.
Joe : Cerberus has several Drones in Liberty which monitor important events and scan the systems for LSF activity. We could use several of these Drones for the scanning. They are not as advanced as an AI, but that means that if they are "caught" the data that the enemy can retrieve is minimal.
While he was talking he used his hands to aid in his speech, creating a light kind of smoke screen from his cigar.
Joe : Do we need additional information of the ship? Maybe equipment upgrades or change in the commodities he is carrying?
"Yes, i think drones would be perfect. No risk for the agents."
He turned to Cerberus colonel.
"Both of this. Equipment can be changed from what we have seen last time, and the vessel can have something in cargohold to confirm infested status. Anyways, three indepent scans on the vessel are crucial."
<jim sipped his water then spoke" you seem to forget its a carrier,most of the new ships have highly advanced electronics suites they can project false lifesigns and such you need a more.. direct method"
<he sat down haveing topped off his water> "scan him via a comlink when you hail him.. it will allow you to access the computer systems via bouncing the return signal tap into the life support and vola real readings in real time for the channels duration.... .annnd if you download a covert program to constantly relay data youll never need to re open the hail"
" now your probably wondering how you avoid detection, thats simple mask it as normal radiation or match it to the residual radiation of the carriers own engine exhaust,to do that is easy,just scan her exhaust trails an d recreate them" <he eyed the Cerberus colonel briefly> " your drone could do all of that create a two way comlink maybe strike up a conversation via the drone or hell give it limited programming to do it for you,that way you can just run passive scans and not alert the crew as most of the time any active scans are seen as a precursor for attack" <he looked him in the eyes> " thats how it was on my tub and if she was my carrier or really cared about her security thats how they would be on hers too..although i ran a battlecruiser protocol is ultimately protocol"
< his eyes a cool crips light blue now turned to Landa his gaze more serious... more drilling he was seeing what the kid was made of as frankly if this was just gonna be a waste of time he wanted to know because frankly the order couldn't afford to lose time on bogus crap>
" i do have to ask though... why that ship in specifically ... how strange is she acting and such are you sure shes not just under command of an overzelous commander,it would be a shame to waste our already stretched resources"
"With all due respect, sir, you already heard why this ship is special - of course, if you have payed attention to what i was saying. Besides - carrying Nomad organisms and related technology in areas with high civilian populations, such as New York, Manhattan et cetera, poses a great threat to its citizens by itself. Nomads should be contained in Zone 21 for a reason."
He put a smoking cigar back and drew on it, then breathe out a smoke in direction of Jim, making a screen.
"I understand why you are worried, sir, but we have to investigate it."
" the majority of the naval ships ive ever seen were refit per recomendations from the LSF to carry nomads.
i know because the iwo jima was the first to get them,there specialized stasis pods tied directly to a main feed and 3 backup generators in the event of a breach protocol demanded the squids be incinerated before they regained consciousness so we either filled the cargoholds with drive plasma or i had men with plasma throwers<high grade flamethrowers>go in and barbeque them,then we jetasoned them into space.. worse case.. and this was a jima modification only again as far as i know i jettisoned the modules and had my gunnery crew fire light mortar barrages at them obliterating any and all traces them."
" look i guess what im saying is youd best make damn sure we have reason to launch an investigation because iof it turns out to of just been a one time thing,youve done nothing bit waste our time, and frankly we need more basic intell before we commit to any major operations "
"Im very glad to hear that Iwo Jima had everything to contain jellys, and your marines were ready to reckless rush them with heavy weapons in the ship interiors. To be honest - it easily could lead to the hull breach."
Landa made a pause.
"What more basic intel do you want? Another reports from assaulted civilians?"
He drew again.
"Let the Cerberus CO decide, what will be waste of his resources and what - not"
Joe : Gentlemen, we will get to the bottom of this. Patterson, do not worry about wasting resources, before we do anything we let the Drones take care of this.
Joe to Landa : Alright Landa, we do need some info as of where this Commander is right now and at what moments he will be patrolling.
// What is the time when he is mostly online and with what GMT?
" landa,my men never would of caused a breach
at most scorching the interior hull.the blast doors themselfs were over 6 feet thick lined with berrlyium and she had irridium lineings on any bulkheads that would be exposed twords space ,look enough about that ill contact my old command and see if my old xo can find the ship untill your drones can get on location,but joe... the slightest trace of order tech will spook her so take that into advisement. assault carriers are very formidable.