Rebel privateer Rebel privateers were privateers hired by the Rebel Alliance to harass Imperial shippings during the Galactic Civil War . They were typically not formally members of the Rebellion , but nevertheless pro - Alliance . Letter of marque and reprisal . Rebel privateers were issued a letter of marque and reprisal , which was a contract defining the conditions under which the privateer would work . Letters of marque were issued by the Chief , Chief of Staff , Fleet Commander , Ordnance and Supply Commander , or Sector Commanders - in - Chief . The latter , however , were only valid in the relevant sectors . Since Mon Mothma was too busy to worry about privateers and Ackbar disliked pirates , virtually all letters of marque were issued by Sector Commanders and secretaries , while Ordnance and Supply Commander , Ral ' Rai Muvunc was known to issue letters of marque as well . For example , Muvunc issued Chaeloe Dantin ' s letter of marque . Commissions , duties , and privileges . Rebel privateers were commissioned with raiding Imperial cargo ships , supply bases and factories as well as similar targets owned by corporations associated with the Empire . Usually , Rebel privateers were to surrender 50 % of the supplies and profits to the Rebel Alliance and could do what they pleased with the remaining 50 % , which was often chosen to be sold to the Alliance anyway . Captured slaves were to be set free and illegal drugs were to be surrendered to the Alliance for destruction , while captured Imperial personnel were surrendered to the Alliance for interrogation and the like . Typically , a reward was given for captured Imperial personnel in the form of prize money . Rebel privateers were expected to seize cargoes with minimal bloodshed and were not allowed to attack Rebel or neutral ships or to take civilian hostages . Any such violation of the letter of marque made the privateer fair game for Rebels to hunt . Often Rebel observers were stationed aboard privateers ' ships . Rebel privateers , like Rebel mercenaries had certain privileges . They were allowed to use Rebel safe ports , repair facilities , supplies , and intelligence . They were also typically offered amnesty and pardon if they were former criminals , if promising not to commit crimes again . Rebel Alliance and privateers . In the early days , the Rebel Alliance was hesitant to make use of privateers and other mercenaries with no ideological drive similar to that of the Rebellion . Eventually , sector commanders started hiring privateers to acquire the supplies that High Command failed at providing . Mon Mothma decided to run a trial period of officially issuing letters of marque . The trial was successful , and the Rebellion developed rules and guidelines and started making use of privateers regularly . Rebels found privateers a useful resource , but also tended to distrust privateer captains due to their basic mercenary nature . Consequently , privateers were treated coolly by the Rebels like employers would treat employees . Rebel privateers : an unruly stock . Rebel privateers were a varied and unruly stock consisting of very different types of people . Rebel privateers crews often comprised former bounty hunters , former scouts , and former criminals , but notorious ruthless criminals and cold - blooded murderers were not tolerated by the Rebels and were thus seldom found in Rebel privateer crews . Many privateer crews also employed very skilled technicians who , apart from repairing the ship and similar chores , would be part of boarding parties to slice into computer and security systems as well as to strip the ship of components if it was not to be taken as a prize . In addition to technicians , there would often also be numerous other specialists in a Rebel privateer crew . Many Rebel privateers were former pirates and criminals who wished to mend their ways or to secure retirement without the threat of persecution . Alliance observers . Since the rebels never truly trusted their privateers , they would often place Alliance observers aboard privateer ships . An Alliance observer was a Rebel officer assigned to a privateer ' s ship to keep an eye on the crew . Alliance observers would often be detached naval officers or mission group agents , but occasionally also bureaucrats , supply agents or free agents . Targets . Rebel privateers were commissioned to raid and capture property of the following organizations : Common vessel types . Rebel privateers , while essentially not part of the Rebellion or any other type of organization , did tend to share preferences for the same types of ships , caused by , more than anything else , the demands of their trade . The preferred type of starfighter was the Z - 95 Headhunter which was also widely used by pirates , though the Gauntlet starfighter was also frequently seen . Rebel privateers would often make use of light , medium and bulk freighters as well as light frigates . Those privateers who had specialized in raiding container ships , star galleons and the like would often use modified CR90 corvettes which were also widespread in the Rebellion itself . Large frigates and cruisers were extremely rare among Rebel privateers as were blastboat s and gunships . One Rebel Privateer group operated out of the EF76 Nebulon - B escort frigate , " Free Lance " captained by Urias Xhaxin .