Scanning is used to keep an eye out for trouble. How the scanning is done exactly is up to the player, and can range from very sensitive hyperspace monitoring equipment on a moon to continuous patrols by long-range scanner vessels.

As per the Alliance Declaration, all union members have full disclosure about their military capabilities and disposition to all other Union Members. As such, scanning is mostly used to gather information on non-PC fleets.

Scanning is always done per sector. For purposes of scanning a range of 1 indicates the single sector the scanning entity is located in. A range of 2 indicates the sector and its direct neighbours. Scanning ranges are overlapping, not cumulative.

• An independent system scans 1,
• A fleet zone has a scanning range of 1,
• A military fleet scans 1,
• and a Survey Fleet scans 1.

If a fleet comes within scanning range, the following properties become known:

• the sector the fleet is in,
• the status of the fleet (e.g., inactive, defensive or combat-ready),
• the number of upgrades on the fleet, and their distribution,
• the presence of troops and their power,
• The fleet's allegiance,
• Any other information the storyteller deems revealed.

Technologies could be used to increase the scanning range of these things. An example of such technology is 'Passive Hyperspace Monitoring' which allows the use of Survey fleets for long-range scanning operations.

Note: A fleet that moves through a scanned sector triggers both an entry and exit event. I.e., the fleet enters the sector, and leaves the sector, and this will give you information.