I've always been enamored of the Gunstar / Starfury aesthetic for space ships. Introducing something like Cal's Spider Tug from ID2 would present some interesting opportunities combined with a cool aesthetic. A Cobra or Viper (pick your mark, but Viper MkIV would be my choice) would make a great command module (the small delta shape low / front / center on the right most pic). As a tug, it's designed to pull cargo modules - something like a Type-6 with no FSD, smaller fuel tank and more cargo space. Hard-dock several behind the Tug (I'm thinking multiples of 4 arranged radially add laid out like train cars.) and you've got a bulk freighter. Loading/unloading would be accomplished by undocking the cargo modules and piloting them to the landing pads like you would any other ship.
The radial design and engine layout would be a great opportunity to introduce a ship with symmetrical pitch/yaw/roll profiles. A 22ish degree per second profile would still be at a disadvantage to Kraits, Corvettes, and anything more maneuverable. Top speed should be on the high end with Thrusters designed for bulk cargo loads (e.g. Type-9 like top speeds with the Cargo Modules attached, and Cutter-like speeds without)
As for hard points, 4 Large located on the engines and two mediums restricted to launchers only (missiles, mines, flak, flechette, Sub-surface, seismic, or torpedo), plus the 2 medium and two light from the command module.
Overall Size of the Tug comparable to the Type-9/10 (with a Viper MK IV hard-linked to the nose), so still fits on a large pad. Of course the ship would be unable to dock with the Type-6/Cargo modules attached.
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