[Nitram Draw]

The main problem I see with Pirates would be getting started. You would not want the colonizing as rapidly as others but by the time they made contact they may be so far behind in technology that they are just a roving neutral.
I think they should have high intel, combat and repair, lousy production and research, and normal build and maitenance.
They also have to have special techs,grappling hook stronger boarding parties,shield busters etc.
If I knew how to make a new tech tree I'd give it a first pass for one of the mod squad to refine!