Privateer

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Aprivateer was a civilian ship or individual serving a governmental organization in a paramilitary role, or a member of its crew. Often basically legitimizedpirates, privateers would operate under a government contract known as aletter of marque and reprisal, giving theircaptain authority to harass, seize and destroy the shipping of another organization—typically one that was considered an enemy in times of war.

During theClone Wars, theConfederacy of Independent Systems was known to use privateers to bolster its forces, especially late in the war. This might have also been a tactic to induce pirate forces to attackRepublic shipping, drawing the pirates away from the CIS's own lucrative mercantile shipping networks.^[1]

In theGalactic Civil War, theRebel Alliance would hire a number ofprivateers to harassImperial shipping, a policy supported particularly byRal'Rai Muvunc ofOrdnance and Supply.^[2] The Alliance was hesitant to use privateers, as they did not trust the mercenary nature of the groups. After some initial trials,Mon Mothma approved a procedure that allowed various Ministries to issue letters of marque with Executive approval. The relationship between the Alliance and privateers was considered to merely be one of employee and employer.^[3] The Imperials also utilized privateers, withPalpatine giving explicit permission for privateers to raid enemy shipping on his behalf, and the Imperial Military tolerated their actions in theOuter Rim so long as they did not directly interfere with the Imperials' activities.^[2]

After theBattle of Endor, the use of privateers by theNew Republic shrank considerably, reflecting the increased size and status of thefleet underAdmiralAckbar, who had always opposed their use. Many retired with their pardons and hoarded wealth, but some continued to raid shipping in theOuter Rim. Others joined the New Republic and continued operations against theImperial Remnant.^[3] However, ImperialMoffs andwarlords started issuing their own letters of marque, and during the crisis of the rebornEmperor, the New Republic once more made use of privateers. By11 ABY, privateering sponsored by the New Republic, as well as by theImperial Remnant, was nearly completely phased out.^[4]

Privateers were common in theHapes Cluster, where they seemed to serve the interests of political factions in theHapes Consortium.PrinceIsolder famously went undercover with the crew ofCorellian pirateGrov Bricker to track downHarravan, the Hapan privateer who killed his brother,Kalen.

Han Solo had once operated as a privateer, including a close encounter withHapan naval forces on the edge of the Cluster.

Other governments that issued letters of marque included theAllied Tion sector and theCentrality. Some corporations also sponsored privateer-like mercenaries, includingTaggeCo,Santhe/Sienar Technologies,SoroSuub Corporation, theCorporate Sector Authority and theMining Guild.^[4]

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