Looking for references to Kinunir Class cruisers

[aramis]

On a related note, can anyone suggest any way that donating a small, inefficient ship like a Kinunir to an ally who can afford to build dozens and scores of battlerships can possibly be construed as a compliment?

Alternatively, why Iolanthe would feel the need to subtly insult the Vegans? Having the ventral turrets reduced from missile racks to dual lasers is a nicely bizarre touch, as is ordering a ship from clean across the Imperium to give to the Vegans.


Hans

If it mounts a technology they utterly lack... <fakesneeze>Blackglobe</fakesneeze>

 

[Whipsnade]

If it mounts a technology they utterly lack... <fakesneeze>Blackglobe</fakesneeze>

Gents,

I'll point out again it's much easier to ship a black globe the length of the Imperium than the 1,250dTon vessel in which the globe happens to be currently installed.

However, if the vessel in question happens to already be on the Rim, those shipping concerns are moot.


Regards,
Bill

 

[rancke]

If it mounts a technology they utterly lack... <fakesneeze>Blackglobe</fakesneeze>

I did think of that, but I don't think it works.

It's either a subtle insult or there's some angle that makes it a compliment. I did have an idea that would make it compliment: Some important Vegan scion -- a direct descendant of the Third Soogaj, or something -- was serving aboard the Shurrupak and performed some sort of heroics or had his life saved. So the Vegans asked for the ship so that they could put it on display in a memorial sort of thing. However, I can't get the weapons refit to fit (so to speak).

It works much better as an elaborate insult. The Empress goes to great lengths to procure the ship -- it takes about two years to summon if from the Marches. Then it gets an utterly insignificant refit and has its name formally changed. This isn't just a personal gift, it's a personalized one. And then Iolanthe presents it to the Vegans with as much pomp and circumstance as if it had been a squadron of Tigresses. and the Vegans has to grin and utter fulsome thanks.

Yes, I can see that happening. If for some reason the Empress wanted to stick a metaphorical thumb in the Vegans' collective eye, this is one way of doing it. But what reason? Could the new name be some sort of clue? Frankly, I'm stumped.

Of course, one could simply leave the reason unexplained. After all, whatever the reason, the official story would be the one about the Empress donating a ship to the Vegans, nothing more. But I'd feel happier if I could come up with a good story.

Ah, well...


Hans

 

[boomslang]

I'm quite willing to dump those stories if they can't be explained. But I think it's more fun if we can come up with something.

Given the uselessness of Black Globes in actual HG2 combat, when combined with the AI computer systems, I have always gravitated towards "Special Ops" when trying to explain the continued existence and unusual disposition of the Kinunir class...