Intelligence-gathering is a major part of any war. In the early years of the Succession Wars, the only units that could accurately gather information were scout 'Mechs such as Stingers or Wasps. Though orbital intelligence was the most effective means of gaining information, it was often defeated by enemy jamming systems or the simpler method of attacking the scanning DropShip.
         Many military vehicle manufacturers accurately predicted that the 'Mech would soon become a costly war tool, and that scout 'Mechs would be the most expensive. This was because the scout 'Mechs would always be assigned the most dangerous situations and thus would suffer the highest attrition rates. ScolTeck decided early on to produce the most effective scout vehicle possible. Devoting all possible resources to developing sensor systems, Scol-Teck released the Hi-Scout Drone Carriers in the year 3000.
         ScolTeck Hi-Scout Drone Carriers are used by the armies of nearly all the Successor States. Their main function is to detect invaders that might land on important but lightly defended worlds. Sometimes, the drones are also used for battlefield communications and detection.

         The Hi-Scout is the best detection unit available. With its StelthMat-Q Communications System, the Hi-Scout can find and identify enemy units on almost any part of a planet without being detected itself. Its maximum detection range is 60 kilometers, although the use of the vehicle's drone sensor units may increase this range. The Hi-Scout has infrared, seismic, sound, motion, radio, radar, and hyperpulse detection systems.
         The NapFind and PathTrack Sensor Drones use some of the most complex communications equipment ever developed. The NapFind's sensor range is 10 kilometers, and the PathTrack's sensor range is 20 kilometers.
         The NapFind drone uses a skirtless hover system, the most advanced lift system available in the Inner Sphere. Developed in conjunction with other military vehicle manufacturers, the system employs something called a "venturi-disk," the details of which have not been released to the public. The NapFind sensor system is one of the most advanced available, using infrared, seismic, sound, and motion detection systems.
         The PathTrack is a tracked drone, similar in design to the NapFind, except that it has more powerful detection systems. The PathTrack has all the detection capabilities of the NapFind, except that it may also detect and intercept radio transmissions and relay them back to the Hi-Scout.
         The Hi-Scout's MultiTrack Coordination System allows the vehicle to relay information from drone to drone, creating a "sensor chain" that increases detection range by over 100 percent. The only problem with this system is that some worlds have an unusual amount of background radiation, which can interfere with the MultiTrack.
         The Hi-Scout also contains normal communications systems that enable it to transmit over 500 different channels, using all of them at the same time.
         Like many command-type vehicles, the Hi-Scout carries a small self-defense weapon to discourage nosy infantry units or light vehicles. The missile system uses the TacTex MiniFind as a guidance system.

         As the Hi-Scout is not a combat vehicle, there are no outstanding combat reports. As a communications and detection vehicle, however, the Hi-Scout has proven to be invaluable.
         During a border raid into Davion space, a Kurita attack group had to make a blind landing after the unit's DropShip sensors were damaged on the way in. Fortunately for them, the unit had recently purchased a Hi-Scout Drone Carrier with a full complement of sensor-drones. The Kuritans immediately dispatched the drones on recon missions.
         When the drones reported back hours later, they had very little information about enemy activity. Wondering what could have gone wrong, the Hi-Scout's commander patched his StelthMat-Q into the Davion communications satellite system to increase the Hi-Scout's base range from 60 kilometers to 600 kilometers. The attack group immediately reported to the unit commander that they had landed on the wrong side of the planet and that the original Kurita forces, previously under radio silence, were victorious.

         Very few variants on either the Hi-Scout or the sensor drones are available. It is possible to obtain drones that are water-capable, or even space-capable, but these are rare and expensive. Though some differences in style do exist for the Hi-Scout, the changes are mostly cosmetic.

Brandon X
         Brandon X is the code name of a Redjak Ryan scout who is known for his persistence and bravery in combat. It is rumored that Brandon stayed inside his Hi-Scout for over two weeks while occupying hostile territory. It is also rumored that during those two weeks, Brandon X also destroyed over twelve infantry platoons with nothing but his SRM 2 rack. Neither rumor has ever been confirmed.