Kestrel A:
No, it wasn't repurposed. It was always built for war. But it was a very old ship and was out dated, even when upgraded (current known Kestrel) it still isn't the best ship out there.
There is a few ways we can look at this ship but this is what I like to look at it...
This is the first "Federation Cruiser", the other Fed Cruiser we have playable is a very brand new prototype cruiser, while we also know the current main cruisers as the Federation Fleet Cruiser 1 and 2 in the backgrounds in the last stand.
If you have issues following this.
Kestrel Cruiser = Very Old outdated cruiser
Federation Fleet cruiser = current majority of cruisers in the Federation fleet
Federation Cruiser = New cruiser
This was a very popular cruiser of choice... well back in the day, they were plenty full and were of great use to the Federation hence it's very long service record. However it is going near the expiration date...
We can tell it is popular also not only due to age but the B and C's existance...
Kestrel B:
We know the Rebels are well... part of a Rebelion. and Rebellions that often succeed is known as a Revolution. Both Reb and Rev are often from internally of a empire/ kingdom/ or country in history. It is a quite common theory that the Rebels ORIGINATED from the Federation and thus Rebel Painted Federation ships in the opening of the Rebellion could have been what the Rebels used mainly at first...
The other idea of why there are Rebel coloured Fed ships is due to the fact there are Federation Deserters who left to join the Rebelion (either way you look at it, it is former Federation members going to join or form the Rebels). And there ship (in this case the Kestrel) was repainted and used at least for firsts.
Player hand control of this ship is probably due to capturing back one of these Rebel Kestrels. Which is also another common parrarel to modern history in reality
Kestrel C:
Much like you said, most likely spare kestrels captured or Federation crews deserted the Galactic Federation and became pirates which later on were recaptured. We can tell as there are some hints with some pirate and mercenary encounters in FTL. Typically the ship that belonged to a race typically had that race on the ship.
Engi A:
The Engi are one of the main supporters of the Federation and are part of the Federation through thick or thin. This is the conventional colour scheme for the Engi ships and would be suspected that there would be some Engi ships in the last stand assisting with Federation medical and repair needs.
We can see from the standard crew on this ship that there is a human onboard which still pushes the idea this is a federation ship.
Another major hint this is a federation ship is the way to unlock it... directly from the Kestrel and/or going to sector 4. It was also one of the first player ships in game along with the Kestrel.
Engi B:
Very little is unknown about this ship... it only has 1 crew, is mainly filled with drones but it doesn't use drones for offence or defence directly in the form of anti ship drones and defense drones. It instead uses it's heavy laser and heavy ion to take on enemy ships...
it is quite possible these ships are to throw of suspicion on the Engi's interactions with the Federation and that these may be used in the last stand as it's repair drones could probably help. But These is mainly speculation. Not much is known about it.
Engi C:
With a new chrome silver appearance and much more smooth texture using high end technology like hacking and such. It is quite likely these are the high end science and research platforms for the engi as well as being there high end ships in there brigade. It is quite possible to fend of Mantis invaders in the Engi coreworlds as well as to work on study and research with the Zoltan.
Federation Cruiser A:
As I mentioned earlier, it is not the ship from the laststand (Fleed Cruiser 2) but instead a new design built to replace it. The "Winglet" design, nose design, engine design and quantity, the Bridge, the Stripes, the profile, the height, etc is much more different then the Federation Cruiser A. As mentioned earlier in the Shipyard thread. The Fleet Federation Cruiser 2 is simply the Predecessor of the Federation cruiser and NOT the direct upgrade. If anything it is speculated that due to the fact it has 4 engine exhausts per engine instead of 3 that this ship may be much more faster and agile then the Federation Cruiser and possibly has much more on-board weapons then the artillery weapon. Also the Air locks are in a different location.
Anyway, back to the Federation Cruiser. this is the latest cruiser in Federation hands using the Vindicator Beam as it's primary artillery weapon and burst lasers for support , it is a secret top end ship that was probably the last ship developed by the Federation in our current time line. It is the only Artillery vessel in vanilla FTL for player use. However there is some on the Rebel side known as ASB's in Rebel controlled beacons.
This ship was meant to replace the current Fleet Cruisers as well as the Kestrel. Few have been built but they have been captured by the Rebels at one point near a top secret facility that is where the second Rebel Flagship was being constructed.
Federation Cruiser B:
Unknown really, it's colours it adorns is not of Rebel of Federation colours. It is possible the Command ship of the Militia/ Civilians of the FTL universe that could be newly imerging but it is unknown in detail who belongs this ship. All we know is the Federation somehow got it back. The starting crew has a Human, Zoltan, and Slug... The Zoltan sectors does have some Nebulas in it where some Slugs could reside. Theoretically this may be a Federation-Zoltan ship. As it adorns simular colours but not identical to the Zoltan ships. This could be the result of getting the Zoltans support again post the Zoltan peace envoy quest. Zoltans used to be part of the Federation in the past theoretically before the Federation Mantis war.
Federation Cruiser C:
Due to it's configeration...
Clone bay... Prototype Artillery... Crew... Teleporter... These are no ordinary pirates by any measure which shows through the paint work which is not only more expensive due to the fact it covers the entire ship but also the Very ship itself and the weapons on it. I theorise that this came from possibly a battle hardened group of ex-federation crew as well as new additions during the Rebel uprising. Possibly one of the Flagships that escaped the claws of the Rebels.
This ship does not look like any normal pirate configeration in FTL at all. no propper weapons. rare prototype weapon artillery. Zoltans, Teleport and clone bay with a Flak for artillery I have to repeat again. This is probably one of the more elite of the elite out there... another theory for this is the fact this ships colour scheme matches the colour scheme of the ship achievements in FTL which kind of emphasis that these are the more battle hardened elite crew and ship out there. Unique.
I highly doubt the replacement of the artillery beam was due to it being faulty and a make shift repair (it would have been easier to simply not even bother replacing it and just add normal weapons, this ship can use 4 weapons and both federation cruiser A and B has weapons present, it makes no sense to remove them to have a sub-par weapon as it's main gear.
"With a Flak Artillery weapon and an improved Clone Bay, only the most suicidal of infantry chooses to fly on this ship." - ship description.
This kind of also shows how this is a high risk, high skill, high performance ship...
Zoltan Cruiser A:
The zoltans used to be part of the Galactic federation, but not anymore. Due to the captains wisdom in his Kestrel Cruiser they regained the support of the Zoltans and the first aid the Federation get was the Zoltan Cruiser A.
It has the typical zoltan weapons, colours, crew, etc. As well as being asymmetrical as always.
Zoltan Cruiser B:
Some colours mimicing the Federation Cruiser B's colours... This ship has one of the most powerful gear on any ship in FTL thus far. It is an interesting ship that's only defense is it's engines and the zoltan shield. Designed most likely as a interceptor of sorts- fast and hard punch to take victory. It is unknown what faction owns this ship specificly or what colours on this represents, but it could be a sub faction of the Zoltans... perhaps a more battle-ready group?...
This ship is named after the surname of a great mathematician and physician... probably part of the Zoltan Research Facilities possibly testing in FTL jumps and it's affects on the ship, crew, etc... as well as to charge the shield.
A prototype ship by the zoltan research and study organisation.
Zoltan Cruiser C:
Cerenkov... a scientists that is mainly for the "Cerenkov radiation". quote: " electromagnetic radiation emitted when a charged particle (such as an electron) passes through a dielectric medium at a speed greater than the phase velocity of light in that medium.". Continuing hte theme of research and study, this is another prototype ship studying Faster then Light Travel and it's affects and radiation. As well as the ship having a back up battery and zoltan crew as it's main power source (Zoltan provide energy via radiation of some form...).
This is an interesting ship and a very high end scientific vessel. it's colour scheme yet again is rather unknown and possibly belongs to the same or simular group of Zoltans who study in FTL travel.
based on the BP values of some equipment here as well as it's augments, crew, and scientific value, this is probably one of the most expensive ships both in information and in general gross price probably matching up with the Federation cruiser or pass. It is a very interesting vessel I have to say. Due to it's use of drones and ion (zoltans use ions but so do there Engi friends..) this is possibly a joint scientific research with Engi's as well as the production of the ship, this ship theoretically can go to Sector 3 without a single upgrade to it's weapons or drones which adds to it's uniqueness.
Stealth Cruiser A: This was commissioned by the Federation to the Engi to build them a ship. This ship is built as a form of direct action - stealth reconnaissance (DR-SR, name of the type B, it's name revealed to us via it's coding in the blueprints in the FTL coding). Probably meant to be the messenger to the Last federation fleet OR the ship that is meant to take out the Rebel ship...
however. It isn't a love story so to say. This is also rumoured to be the first major evidence the Engi are trying to side with the Rebels to secretly play and smuggle the ship to the Rebels hands instead of the Federation. This rumor came around due to the fact that Stealth is meant to be a prototype Engi exclusive equipment however the Rebel Flagship and other rebel ships also use it...
https://youtu.be/x0emVMsH8DA?t=5m23s
This video segment can sum up the theory on this part...
"Constructed for the Federation by the Engi, this ship is designed to use cloaking technology and speed to get behind enemy lines."
This ship discription further aids the idea that this ship could have been the messanger so to say as it can flank enemies or avoid them completely...
Stealth Cruiser B: "Built like a glass cannon, this ship is hard to handle. If its cloaking can keep it safe long enough to charge its weapon, few cruisers can withstand its might."
This ship description aids the idea this may have been built to take on the Rebel flagship as the Rebel flagship is weaker to smaller cruisers who are agile... this one is just that, but also have stealth to aid it AND large firepower...
I can't add more to the B then what I haven't already said for the A.
Stealth Cruiser C: "This ship was part of an Engi experiment to make a power efficient version of the Zoltan shield. Unfortunately this required the removal of the Cloaking system."
Another collaboration between the Engi and the Zoltan. This is the first Engi ship to have a zoltan shield. However it is the first stealth cruiser with no stealth as well... this was most likely not meant to be used by the Federation.
Can't add more to this then what I said to the A.
Lanius Cruiser A:
This race is pretty unknown... as well as the unlock conditions for this ship not aiding to any real reason to join the Federation... probably a race that is missunderstood and longs to be with others... the war would give them good rewards and the Federation is rather stable in economy with Scrap...
Lanius cruiser B: unknown origins and skin...
Mantis Cruiser A:
built by KazaaakplethKilik, he is a famous Mantis Raider who made this ship and can join your crew.
IT is adorned in the general Mantis Red colour scheme and it is rumored that there is a Mantis Empire of some kind...
Featuring the teleporter and typical mantis boarding party. It is a deadly close quarters ship
Mantis Cruiser B:
"This warship encourages sending massive boarding parties and keeping strong defense."
This is probably a more forced-engi variation of the ship as slave labour by the Mantis... this time using a Drone system for more deffense as this ship focuses on putting the entire crew on board the enemy ship more or less with it's large teleporter...
Unknown what faction holds this ship...
Mantis Cruiser C;
(Crystal) lock down bomb... stun bomb... lanius. This is probably a ship that was created after the portal to the Crystal sector were opened... the ships colours is blue as well if like it is a crystal ship... This ship probably is a Federation variant that has the help of the lanius, crystal, engi, and mantis to make it... probably the first collaboration of the Galactic Federation reborn...
... named after the founding king of Athens... this is an odd ship to be souly a mantis vessel...
Slug Cruiser A:
Stolen from the slugs by the Kestrel crew... this ship is a typical nebula slug ship. It is not really known if the crew are happy to be with you or not...
Slug Cruiser B:
only non rock ship with all ammo based weapons. Using a rather rare healing bomb... this ship is an interesting boarder ship that has an edge over even the mantis ships in some aspects. Very good for nebula boarding and such...
Skin is of unknown origins and factions.
Slug Cruiser C:
Can't add more then what I said above...
Skin of unknown origins and faction.
Rock A:
A typical rock ship using missile weapons. It is in standard rock colours and it is quite heavily armoured as usual of rock ships. it is only received to the federation when the rock learns they are not as weak as they assumed.
Rock B:
Unknown skin and origins... again mimics the elite-skin of ships mentioned for the fed cruiser
Quote:
"Trivia
The name "Shivan" combined with the color scheme of Layout B is a reference to an alien race of the same name in the game Descent: Freespace. " (FTL Wiki ship)
"<!-- name it after FP2 Shivans? - Rakshasa - Moloch - Ravana - Sathanas-->" (coding from FTL for this ship)
Seems like there is a possible inspiration for this ship from Freespace... possibly factions are simular.
Note: this ship is missing 1 weapon.
Rock C:
Description says most of it: "Contact has been made with the Crystalline race and this cruiser was offered to the Federation as part of diplomatic discussions between the sister species."
A Federation Rock-Crystal ship.
Crystal A:
You get it by helping out a crystal crewmember who was in stasis sleep... you get yourself to the crystal sector opening a portal there and getting this ship as a reward... seems very impressive for it's size ...
Crystal B:
Unknown origins of faction or skin.all we know is what the game says... "Their unique racial ability makes the Crystal beings very adept at ship boarding. This ship was designed for such raiding parties."...
