Here's the idea:

You dock at a station and are queried by the mission computer (perhaps you need a higher trade level for this to happen) "Psst! How would you like to do a little job for us?"

You say you are interested, then are offered a large amount of credits for taking x number of (perhaps unspecified) units to a location in grey space within a specified amount of time.

The penalty for failing to deliver on time would be a decrease in pay. The penalty for non-delivery could be a large (larger than your cut would have been) "fee", and maybe a bounty and temporary KOS if you don't pay up. I'm unsure about a faction hit, seeing as it would be "under the table". Maybe things would seem to be getting more expensive for you at that station. Lots of possibilities.

Here's the dangerous part: Stations in grey space would carry a "Rumors" area. Your name, cargo, starting location and destination would be posted until the transaction was completed.

Perhaps this would dovetail into a pirate occupation track similar to the bounty hunter track - only pirates would see the rumors, and perhaps they could take pirate missions to disrupt these shipments.

The reward for the pirate could be in delivering the cargo themselves (it wouldn't be a big load), a payoff from an unknown entity (perhaps a government who did not want to be associated with such things), or some XP if it became a mission-based thing.

Wow, that's a really good idea. Nice FM, kinda odd seeing you make a thread though....nice idea!

it's good.

also brings the idea of contraband to mind, it could work in reverse as well.

bringing contraband from a government space to government space.

Nicely said. I am a huge fan of the "opposing missions" idea. That would be a load of fun.

This would be vary fun.

As the first pirate to respond, let me say that on behalf of me and my kind, I strongly support this idea :)

Great idea!!