Star Wars_ Edge of the Empire Rule Book

DOING BUSINESS IN THE EMPIRE

Most individuals who want to operate in the Empire
must follow Imperial law, or at least understand it (if
they plan to break it). For example, owning and oper-
ating starships in the Empire is regulated, and a ship
owner needs to have his vessel registered.

IMPERIAL REVENUE CODES

Despite propaganda that touts the New Order's commit-
ment to protecting all citizens from the criminal excesses
of scoundrels and thieves, the Imperial Revenue Codes
are the real purpose behind the extensive regulation of
transport and interstellar trade. The Empire requires a
vast treasury to operate, and trade represents the most
lucrative and controllable sources of tax revenue.

There are taxes for taking on salable goods, and tax-
es for delivering them to a destination. There are taxes
for carrying those goods along Imperial-monitored hy-
perspace lanes, as well as for crossing sectors. In fact, if
a freighter captain doesn't figure out how to generate
enough revenue over and above all of the tariffs and
fees, he'll be bankrupt within a couple of months of
flying. Even worse, the Imperial Revenue Codes places
the burden of proof on the individual citizen. If a cus-
toms agent or other Imperial representative calls for
proof of tax payments being up to date and a citizen
cannot provide adequate documentation, he is in seri-
ous trouble. Penalties can include confiscation of the
goods being carried, impounding of the ship, and even
being banished to a labor camp for years.

There is very little wonder that, as dangerous as it

is, smuggling is a popular alternative for the ship cap-

tains brave enough to dare it.

THE BUREAU OF SHIPS AND SERVICES (BOSS)

Possibly the most independently powerful civil agen-
cy in the Empire, the Bureau of Ships and Services
may be over 18,000 years old. Every major space-
port has a branch office, and virtually no one who flies
anywhere within galactic space dares operate outside
the Bureau's authority. Even the Empire does not dare
to interfere with BoSS in any significant way, instead
choosing to require its own related offices to coordi-
nate with the Bureau as necessary.

This unprecedented power comes from the im-

mense data, collected over hundreds of millennia,

detailing all of the astrogation information of the

known galaxy. The BoSS maintains records of all of

the hyperlanes, stellar phenomena, and anything else

related to going from one point to another in the gal-

axy, and every other agency needing this information

relies on the Bureau to get it.

Additionally, the BoSS maintains records for every

ship and every captain, including registrations, certi-

fications, ship statistics, transponder codes, weapons

and shields, and last upgrades or overhauls. The BoSS

assigns transponder codes for ships, and a ship's cap-

tain must maintain his BoSS datapad at all times. This

datapad contains the latest information on his ship, his

crew, his travel data and location, and his current certi-

fications—all of which the BoSS has on record. The Bu-

reau regularly transmits the relevant and current data

out to spaceports, Imperial administrative offices, and

enforcement agencies. In particular, the BoSS coordi-

nates directly with the Imperial Space Ministry.

The Bureau handles its own structure and person-

nel; most positions are actually hereditary in nature,

or else the current holder cultivates and trains his

replacement. As such, it's both a civil service and a

kind of clan. The vital nature of the Bureau's service,

and the assurance that no other entity could possibly

manage the data it has, makes its neutrality a de facto

reality that everyone, even the Emperor, accepts.

THE IMPERIAL SPACE MINISTRY

Despite the role and importance of the BoSS, the Em-

peror's New Order demands a certain level of involve-

ment and control over starships and travel, and that's

where the Imperial Space Ministry comes in. The trav-

el and astrogation data collected by BoSS goes into

constantly updated bulletins transmitted by the Min-

istry. These bulletins also include information about

the latest rules and regulations, as well as information

for spacers and other interested citizens about op-

portunities to work with the Empire. The Ministry also

monitors BoSS data and other factions to spot trends

in piracy, smuggling, or other spaceborn crime.

The Ministry also updates and publishes the Spac-

er's Information Manual, which among other things

details the Imperial Penal References. More commonly

called the "ImpPeRe" by the average spacer, the Im-

perial Penal References break down into five classes.

Though galactic law, the Imperial Revenue Codes, and

countless other sources may make the ordinances gov-

erning galactic travel almost dizzying to contemplate,

most spacers still know the broad five categories:

• Class Five: Minor infractions, these often result in
  either small fines or a tiny bribe to look the other
  way. These include transgressions against local im-
  port/export laws or failing to have the proper emer-
  gency equipment. Fines can go as high as 1,000
  credits, though most are much smaller (or can be
  lowered by paying part of the difference directly to
  the official in question). Evidence of Alliance con-
  nections can elevate this transgression into impris-
  onment quickly. Class Fives are also called "Quints."


• Class Four: The next category up involves infrac-
  tions such as transporting common spice, low-level
  tax evasion, long-expired licenses, or carrying low-
  grade contraband materials without permits. The
  fines for these infractions can go as high as 5,000
  credits. A spacer needs a "Quad" or two on his
  record before the typical Corellian even considers

LAW AND SOCIETY

EDGE OF THE EMPIRE