How about a Barge MK II in the future? I mean a whole new Barge not just an update.
An upgraded version that got simply, massivly modified.
A real flying base that is capable of utilizing a whole fleet in even the most dangerous systems in sirius. An unbelievable RP plattform itself. It's the same model but with many additions like scanners, many docking bays (visually like the current Aquilon), bigger carghold ( ~ 50k), with containers and fuel-tanks, viewable mooring points, many awesome blinking lights, maybe small buildings and a bar or something like that.
So it should be a bit slower as it is right now and bigger.
To solve almost every traveling problems..just let it jumpdrive again.. but just once a week or every 2 days and to a very expensive price..err i mean, a very high amount of fuel. And surly deny access to every jumphole and -gate. But it should still able to fly with cruise speed ( ~150 m/s) no thruster of course.
So you need to think first where you go, because you can't escape for a while..
That means also that it needs much more firepower but now it's known why.
I think there will be many ways to suit it with some weaps, but the main goal should be the shield and the hull. So strong that even 2 Battleships need a couple of minutes to destroy it. A real flying base for every faction that can afford it. A base that fit with every company as a trading outpost, militaries as a mobile defense plattform, researchers, miners and so on. But that depends on the community which faction should be able to get this shiny thingy. ('cuz, bandit embargoes, bandit embargoes everywhere!)
So back to topic: Let the old barge in peace, it's damn too old and all his operational systems are outdated. It's just a really big flying transporter that can still provide really nice roleplay in disco. Especially in cooperation with the above mentioned base prototype.
I never had a barge, 'nor do i want one in the future.
(But i would want that base to roleplay the hell out of it)
