What kind of unit would you ride to war?

Because I'm not really want to die: something heavy armored with large range, maybe a paladin with seraph-sniper.

anyway I'm more commander then warrior, better a heavy armored commando space station/flagship then a Ryder.

Probably a buffed Assault Carrier with missiles and lasers. No shield, but yes big and powerful flak coverage. Good double hit kinetics but not specially super good, the default ones work. Also, no need for a humongous HP. It would be mostly a command unit able to fight on all ranges and support any kind of attack: Basicaly a Sunrider with half the armour but very improved EV (and around only 2000 HP), and kinetics of an Assault Carrier. If I could, I would change the Vanguard Cannon for an slightly improved Alliance Railgun, but if not I wouldn't mind it overall scrapping it for an improve of EV and perhaps a small shield generator.

... unknown pilot-kun? What are you doing here?!

Now that's difficult. Two of my favorite five Mecha are long-range fighters (Bellzelute and Zaku Gunner Luna ver), while two are allrounders (Strike Rouge and Destiny GD) with the fifth being more of a recon type (Kyrios GD) I really can't decide, huh.

So ... hmm. I'd probably build a Cera version of the Seraphim or the Black Jack.

Given the law of chromatic superiority they have to be painted in red or gold of course.

Of course it's not the Ryder that matters but the pilot inside. Or so someone would say.

Hrm. Now this is a bit of a conundrum. Capital ships have so much variety to them. But I think I'd have to go with some sort of destroyer whose main armaments are kinetics and missiles. The ship would have to be fast enough to evade most enemy fire, and possibly have some sort of stealth tech to ambush enemies.

Light Ryder with a heavy kinetic armament and an assault gun for flak screening. Purpose ideally would be to provide accurate fire against larger vessels and clumsier Ryders, and to contribute to a carrier or battleship's defensive network. The kinetic gun would probably be the biggest part of the Ryder. Ammunition storage would likely be the second. (Think like the Hollander mech)

On the larger scale, the CSS Aegis, a shield frigate with heavy assault armament would be a defensive and support vessel designed to contribute both laser and missile protection, while using its assault guns to keep Ryders off of the larger, better armed vessels. The vessel itself would likely focus primarily on humanitarian aid, troop transport, and medical facilities, when not assigned to a battle group.

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Also, did someone just drop a reference to Bellzelute in here? I swore I saw it even though I'm tired as all get out. It's good to know I'm not the only person who knows what that is.

Hmm... This would be mine:

warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_Barge

Although it's probably going to bankrupt Cera a thousand times over. But hey, that's why we have Ongess and the rest of the Neutral Rim, right?

On a serious note, I like to be able to switch between camping at long range, and performing hit and run, so a combination of Seraphim for firepower+range, Phoenix for speed, and the Liberty's electronic warfare suite to support the mission type. I'd like to stay back like Sola and deal punishment while staying out of their range, and if the enemy comes near, I can quickly high-tail it and run away, reposition elsewhere such as their flank, and hit them again. The primary weapon would be large gauss rifles arranged in a revolver-type configuration (to be able to shoot in quick succession). The slugs would have improved magnetized tips that can be activated mid-flight for target accuracy. It'd have pulse lasers as backup. To complement that, I'd like an advanced electronics package with a radar system that's very sensitive, have an advanced targeting and telemetry computer, and that can also integrate with the rest of the fleet so my ship can see/target what the other ships in the fleet can see/target. The ship would be capable of firing at different targets with its main gun within seconds of each other, and at unbelievable range.

For all the equipment necessary, it can't be a ryder or frigate, but at least a destroyer-class ship.

Of course, downside would be lack of armor and that the ship would have to set up to fire. It can't move at high speed and fire at the same time. But if it's got all weapons stowed and is moving at max speed, it can outrun missiles and rockets in a straight line.

Before you can say, "Nope, not possible." I'd like to point out that a military asset already exists IRL that can pretty much do all these (sans the pulse laser and gauss rifle). And for whichever capability I listed that said asset can't do, there's another asset IRL that can. So, I just put the two together.

I would go with an assault carrier, or a battleship with hangar bays. I'd make her lightning quick, the better to evade attacks, maneuver into position, or simply back up and shoot. Lots of laser weaponry, because who doesn't love lasers? I'd also equip a long range cannon on the front. Not as effective as a Machiavelli Dreadnought, but a much further range and higher accuracy. The concept would be tactical long-range fire, eliminating distant targets that might prove a threat, before either drawing targets towards me or sending in the escorts to mop up. Even if I were outnumbered, the flagship would be quick enough to fire from a distance, or even withdraw. Of course, that's my style of play. Destroy threatening enemies from a distance with Seraphim, Liberty and the Sunrider, halt enemies that get past that field of fire with Paladin and Black Jack, then mop up the remains with Phoenix.

That's how sexy captains play.

As a high-ranking official,

I'd want something around the size of the sunrider or maybe bigger. 

I'd want two warp drives, so there's a back-up jump capability.  Being a sitting duck immediately after warp-jumping is an unacceptable vulnerability.

With two engines, the ship could be capable of breaking into 2 ships.  Of course it would only ever be activated once or twice in the story just for the coolness factor.

Battlefield control options: Gravity Gun for manipulating enemy units, salvaging valuables, and saving friendlies.  Repair ability.

Top of the line Shields and Flack for shooting down incoming missiles.

A medium sniper-type kinetic gun, good for taking out weak targets at extreme range, or assist fire against large targets.  I know from playing Mechwarrior games that if you have a big pig of a unit, you need a long range weapon or it's difficult to get into attack range.  I guess the Flack would also work as guns and for blindside attacks.

When the ship is split into two, one will have the Medium sniper gun and shield generator.  The other will have the Gravity Gun and Repair, with Flack cannons.  Ryder bays divided between the two ships, but if they pack in like sardines they can uncomfortably fit into one of the two ships for dramatic escape possibilities.  Such as letting one half of the ship be blown up while we escape in the other half, concealed by the explosion.

It would basically be a mobile base to protect, support, and thereby attract the best Ryder pilots like flies to honey.  Call it "The Guardian" or something like that.