Starport Defenses

Bertil writes:
>
>   One thing that I noticed in Hard Times is that the Strephonian era Imperium
> apparently were a relatively peaceful and trusting place. It is especially
> noted that "Many starports have emplaced missile batteries to repel unwanted
> visitors" and that cargo is now NAS-ed to detect stowaways.
>
>  I've always assumed that these measures were in effect. Some commercial
>airports in the world now have SAM-batteries, and almost all Swedish harbours
> have some form of coastal artillery dug into some appropriate island. Usually
>not manned, but it is there. As for NAS-ing: It is easy, it is fast, it is
>cheap and I've included it in the "General Scan" done for a fee on demand
>along with densitometer and other scans for weapons and explosives.

I agree with Bertil here...I've assumed for a long time that these defenses
were commonplace before the Rebellion.

Rob Dean