diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index e12987e..05b79a2 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -120,9 +120,7 @@ var scanCommand = &Command{
 			fmt.Fprintf(conn, "scanners are still recharging.  Can scan again in %v\n", conn.NextScan())
 			return
 		}
-		s := &scan{start: time.Now(), origin: conn.System()}
-		currentGame.Register(s)
-
+		currentGame.Register(NewScan(conn.System()))
 		conn.RecordScan()
 		system := conn.System()
 		log_info("scan sent from %s", system.name)
diff --git a/game.go b/game.go
index 60f63dc..ac8669c 100644
--- a/game.go
+++ b/game.go
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ func (g *Game) tick() {
 	g.frame += 1
 	for elem := range g.elems {
 		if elem.Dead() {
+			log_info("delete game object: %v", elem)
 			delete(g.elems, elem)
 		}
 	}
@@ -128,11 +129,5 @@ func (g *Game) tick() {
 
 type GameElement interface {
 	Tick(frame int64)
-	Dead() Mortality
-}
-
-type Mortality bool
-
-func (m Mortality) Dead() Mortality {
-	return m
+	Dead() bool
 }
diff --git a/scan.go b/scan.go
index e5efd60..b23c40e 100644
--- a/scan.go
+++ b/scan.go
@@ -1,30 +1,80 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"time"
 )
 
 type scan struct {
-	Mortality
-	start        time.Time
-	origin       *System
-	dist         float64
-	nextHitIndex int
+	start         time.Time
+	origin        *System
+	dist          float64
+	nextHitIndex  int
+	nextEchoIndex int
+	results       []scanResult
+}
+
+type scanResult struct {
+	system      *System
+	dist        float64
+	players     map[*Connection]bool
+	colonizedBy *Connection
+}
+
+func NewScan(origin *System) *scan {
+	return &scan{
+		origin:  origin,
+		start:   time.Now(),
+		results: make([]scanResult, 0, len(origin.Distances())),
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *scan) Tick(frame int64) {
 	s.dist += lightSpeed
-	for {
+	s.hits()
+	s.echos()
+}
+
+func (s *scan) Dead() bool {
+	return s.nextEchoIndex >= len(s.origin.Distances())
+}
+
+func (s *scan) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("[scan origin: %s start_time: %v]", s.origin.name, s.start)
+}
+
+func (s *scan) hits() {
+	for ; s.nextHitIndex < len(s.origin.Distances()); s.nextHitIndex += 1 {
 		candidate := s.origin.Distances()[s.nextHitIndex]
 		if s.dist < candidate.dist {
 			break
 		}
+		s.results = append(s.results, s.hitSystem(candidate.s, candidate.dist))
 		log_info("scan hit %v. Traveled %v in %v", candidate.s.name, candidate.dist, time.Since(s.start))
-		s.nextHitIndex += 1
-		if s.nextHitIndex >= len(s.origin.Distances()) {
-			s.Mortality = true
-			log_info("scan complete")
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *scan) hitSystem(sys *System, dist float64) scanResult {
+	r := scanResult{
+		system:      sys,
+		colonizedBy: sys.colonizedBy,
+		dist:        dist * 2.0,
+	}
+	if sys.players != nil {
+		r.players = make(map[*Connection]bool, len(sys.players))
+		for k, v := range sys.players {
+			r.players[k] = v
+		}
+	}
+	return r
+}
+
+func (s *scan) echos() {
+	for ; s.nextEchoIndex < len(s.results); s.nextEchoIndex += 1 {
+		res := s.results[s.nextEchoIndex]
+		if s.dist < res.dist {
 			break
 		}
+		log_info("echo from %v reached origin %v after %v", res.system.name, s.origin.name, time.Since(s.start))
 	}
 }