Marauders remains my jam. This was my favourite installment in the series thus far. Adore the characterization of the Shaw's and their interactions with each other. I love the Hellfire politics and hope to see much more of it contributing to the overall premise of the series. Pirating hijinks with Kate & co. are fun and all, but on its own it's very base. All of the players in this grand game of Krakoan chess is the pull for me.
With Christian & Shinobi being Captains of their own ships, I wonder who will be selected as their crew. And will the Red Bishop get their own boat? What about the knights? I'd love to see Emma & Christian employing Hellion, Mercury, Shark Girl, Shatterstar, Avalanche & Alchemy. Shaw & Shinobi recruiting Empath, Lady Mastermind, Skein & Daken. And Callisto with a crew of Marrow, Random, Abyss & Litterbug.
That was my impression too. He wants to wrestle away control from Kate and/or Emma, and plant his chosen disciples in their place. I'd expect more of his former allies to be pulled into the fold as the series progresses.
Sometimes even the worst of us are capable of feeling base human emotion.
I enjoyed the context of that conversation they had, but I found it surprising too. He's not a character I'd expect Kate to contact. I would have thought Bobby, Illyana, Rachel & Kurt would be her first choices. Though perhaps one of them will be her Red Knight instead.