Post by ALMIGHTY ALICE on Feb 11, 2012 0:18:57 GMT -5
Common Independent Jobs & Activities
While the number of jobs performed by people not affiliated with any faction is beyond comprehension, these are some of the most famed ones in the Star Wars universe.
Due to the nature of these professions, most - if not all, are heavily depending on owning their own ships to transport themselves throughout the galaxy.
Mercenary
A mercenary is a soldier who fights or performs jobs (often ones involving violence) for the highest bidding faction or individual, in exchange for credits or other forms of payments. Mercenaries serve mostly as troopers or pilots for hire, but also as bodyguards and enforcers. They often work on other military assignments as well, for example in those involving testing the equipment, liberating abducted people or retrieving, transporting and protecting valuable goods or items.
They have appeared in all known eras, being especially active when conflicts erupted. Mercenaries are often said to be opportunistic and concerned only on profits and "survival to fight another day". Most of them have a "neutral" affiliation and are hired by many fighting forces without actually joining them. In some cases though, they grow sympathetic to their clients and side with them.
Many mercenaries are defectors from armies or ex-soldiers, often from special forces, and thus have versatility and abilities very useful in their occupation. They are almost always equipped with weapons, often also wearing a personal armor and carrying multiple devices allowing them to fulfill their employer's demands.
While many mercenaries worked as freelancers, others were members of some larger military units or a mercenary guild. Some of these include:
- Ailon Nova Guard
The Ailon Nova Guard has a rich history that dates as far back as 13,000 BBY, with many successes and battle honors and consisted nearly exclusively of non-Humans of the Ailon species. They were long allied with the Galactic Republic and joined during the administration of Supreme Chancellor Affeltelti. They believe in the concept of survival of the fittest and as such they are often trained—almost religiously—to the highest possible standard. The Guard use a wide variety of weaponry, most notably the Eklot.
The reputation of the Ailon Nova Guard is so impressive that they are often compared to the Mandalorians. Their annual Ailon Military Celebrations is a major tourist attraction for the Ailon system, and is broadcasted galaxy-wide.
Upon entering the Nova Guard, a new recruit is given the rank of guardsman and can be promoted from there on. The next rank is corporal who leads a group of forty men called a section. Next comes lieutenant who leads a platoon which consists of six sections. A major, who leads a company which is made up of eight platoons, comes after lieutenant. Next comes the position of lieutenant colonel who leads battalions who are made up of eight companies. A colonel who leads a regiment, a group consisting of two or more battalions, is the next rank up from lieutenant colonel. Next come major generals who lead divisions, who are made of six regiments. Next come field marshals who lead corps, all of whom make up the Ailon Marshalate, an elite command force that also doubles as the Ruling Council. The Supreme Commander of the Ailon Nova Guard is the High Marshal of Ailon.
- Freelance Mercenary Corps
The Freelance Mercenary Corps is a military unit that serves the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
- Mandalorian mercenaries
In their early years, the Mandalorian culture revolved around battle, with war being a source of honor and pride in their community. The leader of the Mandalorians was known as the Mand'alor, translating to "Sole Ruler" and was rendered as "Mandalore" in Basic. Throughout their history, the Mandalorians were frequently allied with the Sith, perhaps most notably the Sith Lord Exar Kun, and held a certain distrust and general dislike for the Jedi Order. However, they would not hesitate to cooperate with the Jedi if a partnership between the two groups was mutually beneficial. In later years, the Mandalorians moved away from their obsessively war-like and conqueror ways and instead, most became bounty hunters and mercenaries, selling their skills to various individuals and factions in the galaxy.
Following their defeat at the end of the Mandalorian Wars, Revan stripped the Mandalorians of their armor and destroyed their stockpiles of weaponry, along with the war droids they'd ridden into battle upon. He also took the mask of Mand'alor, the relic that had been passed from one Mand'alor to the next and without it, a new leader could not be declared. With no Mand'alor, the Mandalorian clans fragmented and scattered throughout the Outer Rim. Beaten and embittered, many of the scattered Mandalorians took up professions as bounty hunters and mercenaries in order to make a living. Known informally as Mandalorian Mercs, these Mandalorians sold their skills to the highest bidder with morality a distant second-thought to credits.
The Mandalorians quickly became the galaxy's most infamous Mercenaries and Bounty Hunters. How ever, in the year 60 BBY, a charismatic Mandalorian warrior by the name of Jaster Mereel ascended to the position of Mand'alor. In this role, he began to institute a cultural reform that many had been calling for since the Ithullan genocide nearly a century and a half earlier, eventually laying out a new guideline for Mandalorian behavior known as the Supercommando Codex. He asserted that the Mandalorians who still wished to fight would simply act as highly-paid soldiers, and should conduct themselves as honorable mercenaries.
- Sabaoth Squadron
Sabaoth Squadron is an independent mercenary navy/starfighter squadron. It is under the command of Captain Cavik Toth. Count Dooku made a pact with Captain Cavik Toth, whereby Toth's starfighters were used to bolster Separatist defenses and fight Nym's pirates, the Lok Revenants and Sol Sixxa's command of the Mere Resistance at Karthakk system and finally fighting both Karthakk's pirate groups and the new Republic Navy at the Battle of Geonosis.
Bounty Hunting
Bounty hunters is a type of mercenary for hire, who trackes down and captures or kills anyone with a price on their head, although they are also known for doing nearly anything for the right price including the protection of clients. The best bounty hunters are very well armed and have very effective weapons, making them even more dangerous. There are, however, plenty of incompetent specimens throughout the galaxy, lacking any real skill but wishing to get rich quickly or simply seeking adventure.
Bounty hunters usually work alone, but occasionally forme partnerships. Partnering with a bounty hunter can be very dangerous business, though, as they typically value their personal gain—and survival—above that of their companions. Despite their fierce independence, their reputation as "Jedi killers" made them valuable allies of the Republic's enemies. There is a strong rivalry between bounty hunters and smugglers.
Generally, bounty hunters remain neutral during times of galactic conflict. They are known to favor one side or another, although never officially joining any one group.
Most often, however, bounty hunters are hired by individuals—particularly criminals and crime lords. The Exchange, Black Sun, and Jabba the Hutt are particularly fond of using them, both for their effectiveness and their availability.
There is a number of guilds associated with bounty hunters, the largest and best-known being the Bounty Hunters' Guild. However, it is often plagued with infighting and a general lack of cooperation between its members. There strother organizations, such as the House of Benelex, and the GenoHaradan, that serve a similar purpose.
Most bounties are presented to a guild, unless the presenter is able to contact the hunters directly. Posted bounties will then be sent to hunters affiliated with the guild and the hunt would be on. With the exception of powerful individuals like Jabba the Hutt, most beings contract hunters in this manner.
- The Bounty Hunters' Guild
The Bounty Hunters' Guild is an ancient institution that regulates the bounty-hunting trade. It is led by a guildmaster who holds the members to the Bounty Hunters' Creed, the unwritten rules of the bounty hunters. Its rules are the laws that keep bounty hunters together, but the guild is full of loose cannons, who often break the rules for their own benefit.
The guild is more a coalition of the professionals than a proper organization, and rivalries between its houses are a common occurrence. The bounty hunters who join the guild have the benefit of notifications of bounty postings before they are broadcasted through official channels, which gives guild members a head start.
The Bounty Hunters' Guild is composed of many smaller guilds that operate nearly independently. Those guilds are loosely held together by the overarching Bounty Hunters' Guild, each with its own organization, regulation, specialties and agendas. The core of the Bounty Hunters' Guild is made up of ten major houses along with a number of smaller groups, each specializing in a unique brand of bounty hunting, but reporting to the guildmaster. These major Houses are:
- Crimson Nova (specialized in Jedi)
- House Benelex (specialized in kidnapping retrieval)
- House Neuvalis (rarely deal with outsiders)
- House Paramexor (specialized in hunting murderers)
- House Renliss (consists of female hunters pursuing male bounties)
- House Salaktori (the most elite and prominent house)
- House Tresario (specialized in hunting pirates)
- Mantis Syndicate (specialized in big groups)
- Ragnar Syndicate (specializing in unorthodox techniques)
- Skine Bounty Hunter College (specialists, who are top at variety
of things) - Slaver Syndicate (sometimes turn their bounties over to slavers)
Smuggling
A smuggler is someone who engages in the clandestine shipment of goods or persons to prevent taxation or some other impediment. The goods shipped are often highly illegal or banned in some sectors.
By far the most commonly smuggled substances are varieties of spice. Weapons are another commonly smuggled commodity within the galaxy. Other cargo for smugglers included chak-root, stolen merchandise, and even clear water (smuggled to Rampa II). In extreme situations, smugglers delivered standard resources or food. Some smugglers, such as Mirax Terrik, specialize in finding rare and sometimes illegal goods or artifacts and delivering them to their clients who hope to avoid using "official means."
Smugglers have to worry about attacks from pirates and opportunists who would attempt to steal their cargo, meaning that smugglers needed to avoid some of the most lawless star systems to remain safe. Also, because they are smuggling contraband, they have no hope of help from Republic forces and can not seek the protection of the galactic authorities. Most smugglers develop keen skills to avoid trouble, and they modify their ships not only for better cargo capacity, but also for greater speed and defenses. In order to evade patrols, smugglers often use smaller and less well-known routes. There are many of these smuggling routes, and every smuggler usually has his or her preferred ways of getting from place to place safely. Despite their precautions, many smugglers end their career on prison worlds such as Kessel or Akrit'tar. Many smugglers are also killed during their runs—some even commit suicide to avoid being arrested and sentenced.
Piracy
The term pirate refers to the variety of rogues that arescattered across the galaxy who attack, rob or commandeer ships as they see fit.
While their actions are inherently illegal, the morals of various pirates vary considerably. Some are cutthroat brigands who are petty murderers or thieves, but others, such as Nym, have a set of morals that prohibit killing the innocent, and generally restrict their actions to the rich. Other pirates, referred to as "privateers", operate under the sanction of governments or organizations. Privateers tend to hold themselves to a more "civilized" standard than other pirates, and restrict their activities to specific targets.
Most pirates were orphans or citizens that were unemployed because of either being uneducated or having a lust for adventure, riches or anarchy.
Indeed, on a few occasions, pirates have pulled through to help the galaxy as a whole. Nym himself aided the Naboo around the time of the Battle of Naboo by destroying a Trade Federation droid foundry on Eos, and helping the Naboo resistance hold off an army attempting to flank the Gungans on the Naboo plains.
A popular weapon of space pirates is the ion cannon. The ion cannon can disable an entire ship and therefore would be easier to board and loot. Pirate gangs operated as two groups: the boarding group and the attack group. The attack group would disable the ship and its weapons and the boarding group breeches the ship's hull to steal or plunder whatever they can find (credits, chronos, comlinks and blasters).
The most identifiable symbol of the pirate is the Blazing Claw.
Slicing
The term "slicer," or "hacker," is used to describe computer expert, often self-taught, who excels at working within a complex computer network, and is able to extract information from this network with great skill. Often, this information is secured by any number and manner of encryption and lockout systems, and a skilled slicer is able to circumvent these systems without triggering alarms.
Many Galactic factions, assorted law-enforcement and criminal organizations, as well as several members of the Jedi Order employ computer experts to write and slice codes. While most code slicing can be performed by droids, the "personal touch" is often required for special jobs.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]
