For a 1.04 patch or the like...

1. Multiple Pirate Factions

-multiple pirate bases, each base being its own pirate fleet & faction

-operate independently of one another

-may clash with each other

-seperate countdowns for raiding, though still utilizing only the same raid bar; players never know which base from whence a raid is coming

-introduce fluctuation to raiding times?

-all function otherwise as normal

2. Pirate Captains

-"Captain Kedless" (and similar) residing in a pirate base (random frequency per game)

-may be multiple such captains in a base; may even be a whole hierarchy of captains/henchmen

-various very steep thresholds of bounty create chances that each successive captain in a hierarchy will sally forth with a raiding group to collect bounty (10,000 credits and up from there... must be substantial)

-captains are the types to possess capital ship class vessels

-finite captains per game, or perhaps a tiny chance that over time a base may generate a new captain, as leaders/thugs prove themselves within the cutthroat ranks 

-audible (?) "Arrgh" kind of message as the event of a captain sallying forth takes place (this would be important to note!)

-would work best with unique ship models for the captains