The belligerence of the Terran Hegemony's neighbors greatly worried Director-General Judith Cameron. Fearing (correctly) that the conflicts between the other States would spill over the border, she directed Hegemony Intelligence to increase their covert monitoring operations. The Tracker surveillance vessel was developed to keep a close eye on the Hegemony's neighbors.
         The Tracker was designed to give sensor readings like a commercial JumpShip. Additionally, attaching special panels to hard points on the hull could alter the ship's silhouette quickly; it was this success that led to the creation of the Nightwing vessel. The ships transponder could be altered with ease, and it was standard procedure to have a number of "aliases" under which the Tracker could operate. So, equipped, the Tracker could ply the space lanes without arousing undue suspicion. A ship would normally jump into a system, gather signals intelligent and monitor fleet movements, then continue on to the next system on the itinerary. As part of their cover, these spy ships often transported innocent DropShips on their docking collars. Speed and firepower capable of dealing with anything short of a capital ship allowed the Tracker to extricate themselves should their cover be blown.
         Following the capture of Terra Firma by the Capellan Confederation in 2409, it was data gathered by the THS Marlow that paved the way for a Hegemony fleet to liberate the world later that year. The Marlow spent weeks snooping on Capellan troop movements, allowing the HAF to jump in just after House Liao rotated new garrison forces in system. With no time to familiarize themselves with their new posting, the Capellan troops had no chance against the vengeful Hegemony force.
         Despite repeated refits, the Tracker had become obsolete by the beginning of the twenty-sixth century. Several remained in service until the end of the Reunification war, acting as Q-ships against pirates and Taurian Concordant raiders.