Wide open spaces make for great "fields of fire". Noone can approach your location without being seen miles way, before they can hurt you. You cannot be "snuck up on". Armies go to great lengths and effort to clear large pieces of land surrounding their remote outposts to create just such a location. LtCmdr Snake, correct me if I am wrong, but I say that if we are going to defend the comm platform (and not do as Zero suggests, and I think his idea has merit) we stand and fight where we are.
Taz