Federation Commander

We have just finished playing Who is the Mutineer? from Briefing #1.

We have a couple of questions.

1) Does the Police E4 become 'disloyal' if it goes more than 15 hexes from the other ships, or is it always loyal because it's a Police ship?

2) There is a rule that says that a Loyal ship firing on another Loyal ship automatically loses the scenario. However, when is this information revealed? If a Loyal ship 'takes a gamble' and fires on a ship that it has not yet identified, and that target ship is actually a disloyal ship, then surely everyone knows that the ship is disloyal if the owner does not immediately state "Sorry, buddy, you lose!". And if the remaining ship is actually disloyal... ahh, I guess you guys can all work out the inferences and subtleties yourselves. But you see the problem - when are we told?

Can I please ping this thread for a reply - thanks!

1) Well, the way it is written, I am gonna say it becomes disloyal (and, for all intents and purposes, probably loses the scenario). Simply put, the E4 cannot ever afford to move outside that 15 hexes.

2) I think the revelation is controlled by the unidentified ship. So, even if it is loyal, it doesn't have to reveal that immediately (unless, of course he wants/needs to). But, as to the main question, firing on a ship to determine its loyalty is a dangerous way to do it. Sometimes you win (he was disloyal); sometimes you lose (he was loyal). Such is the nature of that type of gamble. At least in this case it is a 50/50 chance.