SW3 "Problem" with MSF recon mission in Al Zed
 

I'm supposed to "very carefully gather information about rebel forces and patrol locations in the system", however it seems no matter what I do that part of the mission is failed and I'm announced by the patrol as a spy and I have to rush out of the system.

Is this intended to happen no matter what or is there a way to actually complete that part of the mission?

You need to first go to the station and look for a job. Accept the job and go to another station and the mission will be accomplished.

I went to the station and denied the job, what I'm talking about here is the alternate mission you get for turning the guy down.

I have the same problem as well. I've accepted the mission and went to the other two stations, got the mission accomplished leave system. I leave the system and then I get the 'game over' failure thing. What the heck is going on here.

i got same problem too

I eventually went back in time and just did the escort. You don't actually have to take them all the way, just out of that system.