Add cargo containers to the game and allow the Marauder to pull up to 5 of them in a rigid assembly (think "Space Truckers") If the Maud is attacked and destroyed, the containers break loose but are undamaged and the attacker will need another Maud to retrieve them.

The containers would only be available in 18 and do effect the handling and speed of the Maud.

Yay, now all the pirates will switch to the Gold nation.

uhh I don't think the containers should only be bought in 18. Furthermore, I don't like the idea of them causing the maud handling to be affected. Maud has no real defenses then to hold off the pirate.

As far as I know, Guildsoft has always intended external cargo pods to be part of the design. I have heard them mentioned by devs as an intended expansion, and if you will look at the design sketches for the Maud you'll see its pictured with varying numbers of square cargo pods attached to it.

lol FB I hope you're joking because you just suggested that a maud should be able to carry say 90 widgets and still be able to hold off pirates by itself.