For awhile now the BPA have been using normal transports in its Commerce Control Division [CCD] to stop smugglers, embargo runners and transport sized criminals in general. However these ships are not designed for combat and as such are ill-suited for the role we use them in.
This proposal is to outline an idea for the Interdiction Transport, a more maneavourable transport purpose built to survive and overcome hostile engagments. The ship would take the place of the Firefly, the two options I envisioned are:
The Baroque: A single ship to fill the role of the Firefly and the Interdiction Transport, designed to be a civilian transport first but still capable of fufilling the role as an anti-transport. It would keep the same stats as the Firefly but with 3.4k cargo instead of 3.5k and an extra 10k hull.
The Baroque and the Warlander: Two ships based off the same hull, one would be the Firefly's civilian replacement (Baroque) and the other the dedicated Interdiction Transport (Warlander). The civilian version would carry roughly the same stats and equipment as the current Firefly 3.5k hold same amount of guns etc. The Interdiction version would have a drastically reduced cargo of 2.8k, slightly more maneavourability, an extra gun and 20k more hull but being restricted to Bretonian factions only
These are rough numbers and names which will be changed for the sake of balance and feedback should the proposal get the go-ahead.
Ship Style and Layout
Both ships would need to keep to the same colour scheme and style of the other Bretonian transports, past that nothing has been suggested in terms of looks so feel free to suggest some.
My rough idea was similiar to a stretched out Percheron with a less pronounced bulge and small ridges running vertically on the underside. Two engines at the front and the back of the ship would be attached to the body and slightly covered by the shell like armour. The cockpit would probably be rounded like the cyldesdale but not entirely glass. As for the top, the same kind of armour as the Percheron but less bulky down the middle and dotted with things like scanners and communications. I would try to draw or 3D model it myself if I had the talent which I unfortunately don't, hopefully my description will do.
Combat and Balance
The primary purpose of the ship is to stop and destroy other transports, finding a balanced mix of firepower, agility and armour is far beyond my scope of experience in Discovery so any input in this area would be great. Naturally it must have a CD and be able to dish out a solid beating, so a mix and match of guns and turrets or just turrets, any ideas would be smashing.