Moretsu Pirates: Bodacious Space Pirates

[Ryllharu]

I was greatly amused that Marika had to spend the entire day with Misa filling out paperwork. [Legal] Pirates may be tolerated, even enjoyed for their rarity by the galactic citizenry, but they still have to regulations to follow. I also enjoyed that the pirate operation counted more as theater. Of course insurance would cover it. I wasn't sure if Chiaki was troubled because Marika wasn't doing well, or if she was jealous that she hadn't tagged along.

But does that count as Marika's first pirate operation or not? The cruise liner certainly had fair warning they were coming.

There are two things I really want to know about. The first are the respective crews of the Bentenmaru and the Barbalusa, certainly the former far more than the latter. I hope they spend some time for Marika to get a feel for her bridge crew, and become close with them. They felt like...wallpaper in this episode. Not the way the yachting club had a strong camaraderie aboard the Odette II. Aside from Misa and Kane, they felt a little cold toward her. As the episode title stated, you're not really alone when you're in space. Marika doesn't have to do it all, she needs the faith of her crew.

I also really want to know is what exactly the major conflict will be. That's what keeps me watching. Will it be new outbreak of war, fighting off a new breed of space bandits, or an abrupt change in bureaucracy that attempts to invalidate their letters of marque?
edit: I love the metered pace so far, but the lack of even a hint at any major conflict so far has me curious as hell.