I don't have my books on me, but I'm looking for a Zhodani border world that would have a high Zhodani fleet presence that Imperial Naval Intelligence would be interested in keeping an eye on. Any ideas?
Given the INI presence on Esalin, and in the Jewell Cluster generally, Cipango and Riverland would be your best bets. I can't remember where I read it, I think it was a JTAS, but a Consular Guards Division is permanently stationed at the latter.
Yes, the zho grossly over-fund their colonial navies in this area. The colonial forces do the defensive work whilst the main zho fleet concentrates on offensive operations. Either would be a good target for impie spys.
I am wondering if we can adopt some this thread for a Mutiny on the Bounty scenario that I was contemplating for the Far Frontiers sector. What if an entire Colonial fleet went AWOL and disappeared to the islands of Blue Planet. With some work the Thought Police could be reworked into GEO operatives that is after a generation or so, after the original colonial fleet went native...The Imperium could play the role of the crime syndicates, or at least elements of Imperial Intelligence. And add a few Scouts intent on finding the intelligence of the Aboridgees...