I’m currently working for the militia because I want their “star destroyer” type frigate. The story is minimal to a point which makes it feel like your not really beholden to go with the story and can go about the galaxy doing whatever you want, trade, bounty hunt, be a bandit and all this is made easy thanks to a simple “faction point” system, doing certain missions or attacking certain people will cause you to gain reputation (Rep) with certain factions and become friends with them and open up new items and ship. The basic tactic is to try to pull up to the side of your target, preferably on their backside or front and turn your ship so that your side is facing them, then holding down the attack button you can “charge” the shot which just makes all your broad sides group a little better and let go and watch your cannon fire streak out into the enemy ship.
