Jump Exit Flash

[robject]

A ship leaving Jump Space emits an active flash of broad spectrum energy equal to Ship Size plus Mod +4 (less intense than an Entry Flash). The ship’s gravitational signature appears on any sensors.

Exit Flash is subject to lightspeed and lasts about a minute at peak strength. It then degrades -1 every minute until its becomes undetectable.

In T5, battleships are size 8. Thus, their jump flash is strength 12. I will assume the grav signature is also a 12.

Assume the battleship emerges 10 AU away (range band 13). Here's what happens at all detection stations.

(p379)

1. An alert flashes from the appropriate sensor that some kind of signal is detected.

2. The sensor task is used to try to resolve what gave the alert.

3. Once detected, the object can be tracked unless the signal is lost (goes out of the sensor's range, is jammed, or is stealthed).

A signature of size 12 can be detected up to space range band 12 (size = maximum detection range). So we'll need a sensor installation that's no more than 3 AU away just to get a notable blip and (at least) scramble a reconnaissance group.

Let's design that sensor, assuming it's on an installation. We can build a space range 12 sensor with ACS. And let's use Stage Effects to make sure it's at TL15.

To man this sensor, let's have a smart guy (Int 10) with good skill (Sensors 5).

(p341, Tables A, C, and D)
             EMS Sensor-12  S=7           MCr 1
100t    LBay EMS Sensor-12  S=7   Mod+8   MCr 11
300t    LBay EMS Sensor-14  S=12  Mod+8   MCr 51
300t    LBay EMS Sensor-15  S=12  Mod+8   MCr 51  (Improved)

The sensor task is

Difficulty (in dice) = range. Twelve dice.
<
Sensor TL = 15.
+ C+S = 10 + 5 = 15.
+ Size - Range = 12 - 12 = 0.
+ Mods = +8.

12D < 15 + 15 + 0 + 8 = 12D < 38.

Maybe a 45% chance of detecting it in one space combat round. Chances are such that if we're within 3 AU of this thing, we'll know what it is within three combat rounds. So let's install three of these on our detection platform and we'll usually know about as soon as we're within 3 AU. (This is probably a 1600 to 2400 ton maneuver 6 recon monitor, by the way).