Copyright © 1996 by Kevin Clark ( kevinc AT cnetech DOT com). All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
http://www.geocities.com/pentapod2300/best/comet.htm
Each system could have one or more comet-based fueling stations. Each comet is knocked out of the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud into a safe, long orbit into the inner system, preferably above or below the plane of the ecliptic( to avoid high particle densities). Add some huge inexpensive silicon mirrors, solar panels to melt and crack the fuel, or install a fission reactor, a radio/radar beacon, crew shack/habitat, and you are open for business.
If a fueling station became popular; it could even become a system port. Show up, unload modular cargo to insystem transport craft, load new cargo, let the crew visit the recreational houses... er facilities. All you would need to do is visit an outer planet to discharge your stutter warp and you are out of there.
In my campaign, the US Marine Corp Engineers are specially trained to rapidly set up one of these cometary fueling stations in support of American Space Force starships, and fleets. This provides longer legs for their MHD-powered ships.