operating from an unsettled planet somewhere

If that planet is named Zebes then we'll have bigger problems than space sharks on our hands

DK:  hehe  We'll let you guys provide the 'Samas Aran' portrait for the custom race screens...I'm pretty sure the BigN wouldnt appreciate us incuding it in the final game 

Space Pirates would be a potential area in GalCiv2 that could be developed upon and made very interesting and a twist to the gameplay.

Say for example in a GalCiv2 large galaxy you encounter upon like stated previous a remote starbase except it is mining a special asteriod.

These Pirates are infact a actual gang rather than several crude friends or lonesome wolve. They posess a alias for their Pirate organization, always a HQ as in a remote starbase heavily fortified or a planet specialized in farming, mining or military depot.
Although Pirate's populous is very light, exceeding towards atleast hundreds slowly thousands.

This class of Pirates would offer you diplomatic options and many only exclusive to them. Foremost is where they're positioned and were you are. Second is your history dealing with them as they also have a relationship slider with all the Minor/Major races.
They all have personalites especially their agendas like as Contraband, covert operations and lethal strikes upon a certain Civilization.

Say for example the BloodHounds are a ruthless Pirate group situated in the northwestern sectors of the galaxy. Having several planets and two Starbases,one being a NW mining space station and another being on the fringes of Drengin & Yor national territory, serving the role as logistical'en'regroup depot.
The BloodHounds are suspicious of the Yor and are hostile towards the Drengins. However they favor you Humanity but not due to because they're also Human brood but because your resources, technology and standing relationships amongst the galaxy makes them actively aware of your situation and available ability to support them against enemies, etc.
The BloodHounds open a diplomatic channel with you and demand that they'll hamper a Drengin trade route and furthermore hijack several for loot for themselves especially since you'll fund their exploit against them.
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Pirate organizations offer you options to launch strikes upon opposing empires, capture enemy vessels to add to their growing fleets or perhaps the Iconian's newest
BattleCruiser to be brought to your borders and relieved of their control and additioned onto your fleet.
Furthermore is paying them off though the agendas, personalites, overall Pirate force and relationships with the parties involved depends whether it would accept the bribe or not.

As for funding the Pirate organizations could ask or demand you to fund their efforts or they'll target a piece of your Civilization that is lightly or not defended at all, which is all dependent upon previous said.

Just my 2 cents. I'll possibly improve upon my concepts by edit or if this spuns into a debate.

Yaguer's idea sounds like a specialized "minor race". ARRRRGH MATEY!!

I have only one comment:

Arrrrrrrrr!

Anyone remember the Ominorians from OS/2 GC?

No, but do tell.

But did they say "Arrrrrr!" a lot? They can't be real pirates if they don't do that!

Hello,
did anyone of you play Imperium Galactica 2? there it had pirates AND there was a quite cool idea on it!
After you took care of a few pirate raids, the pirate lord (quit an ugly A..hole) contacted You and suggested a duell
at a distant planet...he asked of You to bring a limited amount of ships (E.G. 6 cruisers, 2 destroyers and one Bettleship) and he will bring the same...after You won the battle, he wil surrender and offers his fleet at your disposal and his daughter (which surprisingly is quite a beauty) to marry You. The good was, You had complete control of the Pirate fleet
and You could start raids at Your neighbours and they were not able to connect those attacks to You!!

I am not suggesting to add this to the game, especially as I am not paticipating in the BETA Tests,
but maybe someone (Developers maybe?)gets a cool idea out of it?

AARRRGGHH!! My crew wants some pirate daughter booty! ARRRGGGHH!!

careful, we still want this game not to be rated M for Mature (event though i like the thought it would decrease sales)

One thing, there's talk about the pirates taking enemy ships. How do they do this? is there a ship-boarding modlue you have to reserch? On is this some option you choose to do instead of killing the enemy...