That's effectively irrevelant, since the observation is basic and fundemental; regardless of tactics it applies.
Fair enough.
However, as the saying goes, a good recon leaves the same evidence as no recon. The whole idea is to see without being seen; and we do know that you can do that. Furthermore there is good evidence that such recon is not necessary. The Shivans in particular have a faculty for attack without warning; and for whatever reason the 150 fightercraft don't show up often.
You make a good point, but that logic applies both ways, and given the Hecate is a
mobile base of operations, effective friendly reconnaissance can enable said Hecate to parry any hostile move, and riposte with its own forces. Shivans are of course an aberration to this, but given the distinctly alien mechanics of their own fleet, conventional tactics would obviously be less effective.
Regarding the 150 fighters not showing up, that's simply engine limitations and gameplay taking precedence over logic within canon. A case in point is the Colossus launching something along the lines of one bloody wing of fighters in
High Noon. Hence conclusions drawn on this topic ingame - while canon nonetheless - must be taken with a grain of salt, as they say.
The 20km from a node blockade works (it isn't possible to jump that short a distance...as far as we know), but the node thing doesn't. Either your on the other side and can commit almost no fighters (recall that most are not fitted with intersystem drives still, according to the techroom) but safe, or you're insystem, and therefore in danger...even greater danger then normal, since you've combine two of the only types of valuable targets in FS space warfare.
Yes, you've got me with that one. For some reason, I always instantly assume that all fighters are inter-system capable. My bad.
As a C&C Vessel, the Hecate would indeed be stationed in-system out of necessity, but given the obvious importance of such a craft, it would obviously be guarded. What i'm trying to say is that the Hecate is quite simply
not intended to be a ship-of-the-line, but still an integral part of the battlefleet. Yes, she's a damn valuable target, but she sure has hell isn't defenseless, and when used in tandem with a guarding fleet, the Hecate would be more than capable to bring her fighter compliment to bear on any dogged opponent aiming to take her out, or simply jump the frak out of their if the fighting got too intense.
If the designers initially intended her to be a vessel comparable in strength to the Orion, then yes, it was a failure in design. However, if she was in fact designed in a style departed somewhat from the powerful, lumbering behemoths of old, and more in terms of a fleet-controlling vessel and carrier craft, then the design can indeed be called a success. It depends on your interpretation of her depicted role, and whatever meaning you can discern from the questionable tech-room description.
