Space Probe

[En1gma]

How about a cheap, single use directional probe? From planet/ship of origin, then select a direction for it to travel. It then does so autonomously with a movement speed of maybe 2 squares per turn until it either hits a planet or runs off the map. Awareness of maybe 2 or 3 squares around itself, can put planets in the star chart, and is invisible to the Xeno unless it hits one if their ships or lands on their planet. Was just thinking this could be a huge help with exploring the quadrant without ruining too much of the balance.

[Guest]

In my opinion there's the scan ability for that (and upgrades to it to scan much better) and exploring is not supposed to be that easy.
This also reminds me of one of those Star Traders laws that forbid any machines that can communicate with each other, which probably counts probes. Technology is limited in strange ways in this universe.

[fallen]

@guest has it right. At the very least, this has to be a ship with a human on it.