The Chronos.
It's got similar speed and maneuvreability to a hyperion.
It doesn't have a beam weapon, nor does it carry a fighter, and has less damage, so indeed, why should you take one?
I take them for excellent all round fire arcs, with twin linked pulse cannons, and the turreted railgun. It's hull 6 helps it shrug off more hits than a Hyperion would, it has 3 interceptors to protect it against other hits that aren't beamy..
really, i personally take it for it's surviveability, and it performs excellently in small groups where it can establish overlapping fire arcs. I appreciate it isn't everyones cup of tea, but it has won me so many games, whereas my hyperions, used in my weekend battle, are just woeful... I don't know why, in two rounds of two Hyperions firing on an octurion, they did 6 points of damage :-(
it's all academic, as it's being slapped down to skirmish level :-(