Smugglers ' Alliance The Smugglers ' Alliance was a loose coalition of smugglers that was led by Talon Karrde . History . In 1 ABY , Talon Karrde and some of Billey ' s people worked together in an organization which was referred to as the Smuggler ' s Alliance . This would later be an inspiration for another Smuggler ' s Alliance , which found its roots in the loose coalition of top smugglers brought together by Karrde on Trogan to aid the New Republic against the assaults of Grand Admiral Thrawn . After playing a major role in the defeat of Thrawn ' s forces at the Battle of Bilbringi , the collaboration coalesced into a formal alliance , which allied with the New Republic with the help of Sian Tevv , who convinced the New Republic Provisional Council of the value presented by third - party spacers . During the height of the Imperial Civil War , Palpatine arranged for the capture of the former Imperial assassin Mara Jade , who had left the service of the Empire and cut herself off from the Emperor ' s telepathic commands after killing a clone of Luke Skywalker in 9 ABY . After Jade was intercepted on a Smuggler ' s Alliance mission to Senex sector , Lord Cronal had her imprisoned , but she was eventually rescued by New Republic forces under the command of Kyle Katarn , whom she later trained under . For over fifteen years , the Smugglers ' Alliance and the New Republic worked together in a mutually beneficial relationship , with Mara Jade acting as a liaison until she wed Luke Skywalker and resettled on Yavin 4 . The smugglers provided the New Republic with intelligence and vital supplies in conflict zones , while the New Republic provided aid to the smugglers ' legal activities within New Republic space and allowed them free reign to smuggle inside hostile space . The Yuuzhan Vong War in 25 ABY drove a spike through an alliance already weakened by the Pellaeon – Gavrisom Treaty ' s reduction in areas smugglers could operate in without concern . In the early stages of the invasion , smugglers ran supplies , weapons and refugees to and from worlds . As beings began to lose faith in victory against the extragalactic invaders , some smugglers began to join the Peace Brigade and offer their services to the Yuuzhan Vong in hopes of earning good grace . Many , however , saw the Yuuzhan Vong for what they were and sided with the New Republic . A small fleet of smugglers and other scoundrels , including Lando Calrissian with his " Lady Luck " and Booster Terrik and his Star Destroyer " Errant Venture " , banded together to aid the New Republic forces at the Battle of Ebaq 9 . Han Solo led the smuggler fleet from the " Millennium Falcon " , and attacked the massive Yuuzhan Vong fleets with inventive , unorthodox strategies . Although they suffered heavy losses , the smugglers were successful in antagonizing the Yuuzhan Vong , and when the aliens turned towards Ebaq 9 to attack the Jedi and Republic forces hiding within the moon , the smugglers threw themselves in their path , delaying their approach and buying crucial time for those hiding to get to fortified positions . 29 ABY saw the Battle of Yuuzhan ' tar and a major change for the Smugglers ' Alliance . The demand for illegal goods hit rock bottom as the short supply of spice forced users to confront their addictions and economies were rattled . In this situation , the leaders of the group claimed that they were turning respectable , and putting their cargo fleets to legitimate use in the rebuilding of Galactic civilization . Karrde joked that the organization was becoming the " Ex - Smuggler ' s Alliance " . This did not mean that the Alliance ceased to exist , merely that its members seemed about to become ex - smugglers . Behind the scenes . In the " Star Wars Galaxies " , the Smugglers ' Alliance is one of three squadrons that freelance pilots may choose to join . This suggests that an early version of the Smugglers ' Alliance existed as early as 1 ABY .