Star Wars Campaign: The Crimson Elite

The Crimson Elite is an interesting organization. Formed by Mandalorians with the direct consent of the current Mandalore, the Crimson Elite is a paramilitary collection of bounty hunters from around the galaxy. While many similar organizations tend to stay in the shadows, the Crimson Elite has marked itself by operating openly, offering its services to police organizations around the galaxy. The Crimson Elite makes extensive use of the Holonet, allowing anyone to post a bounty as long as they have a subscription to their service. There are law enforcement agencies across the galaxy who use the Crimson Elite to hunt dangerous criminals.

The Empire regulates the Crimson Elite surprisingly little, stepping in only when bounty hunters have grossly overstepped their bounds or flaunted their illegal activities to the Empire; even in these instances action against the Crimson Elite is usually restricted to the specific squads. Only twice has the Empire targeted the organization itself: when they refused to post bounty for Jedi and when they posted bounties on Sith.

The Crimson Elite has come to an understanding with the Empire. In exchange for the occasional free job, members of the Crimson Elite are given the right to expedite criminals from any planet in the Empire back to the planet where the bounty was issued. In addition, the Empire is less strict with those in the Crimson Elite who break laws while taking down bounties. Those who try to take advantage of the system, however, soon find themselves either no longer members or no longer alive, depending on whether the Crimson Elite or the Empire find out first.

The Crimson Elite is composed of races from around the galaxy. Wookies, trandoshans, rodians, and other hunting races are common, but humans and other species have all found their place in its ranks. Despite being so diverse, the organization is still run primarily by Mandalorians. This is not due to any prejudice, but because those who offer the promotions look for Mandalorian traits in those they raise in the ranks. Often members become so indoctrinated with Mandalorian beliefs throughout their time with the Crimson Elite that they become Mandalorians themselves.

The Crimson Elite, being run by Mandalorians, has an understandably military organization. However, because of its nature, it is far more linear and less complex than other military hierarchies.

At the bottom are members, those who technically have no rank. Their missions are given to them, and they are required to have a Captain travel with them to prevent loss of life or vehicles. Next are the Corporals. Although still required to travel with a Captain, they are given some freedom in choosing their assignments and pay less of a finder's fee to the Crimson Elite. Sergeants are those Corporals who have distinguished themselves as capable bounty hunters. They no longer travel with a Captain, and have even more freedom when choosing assignments. Lieutenants are the best of the rank and file bounty hunters. They have access to all but the high-profile assignments and pay a very low finders fee. This is the last rank not dominated by Mandalorians.

The rank of Captain is bestowed mostly upon Lieutenants who are too old to chase after bounties, but not too old to travel the galaxy. They are a wealth of information and experience, and travel with low ranking bounty hunters as a security net. The reasons for this are strictly economical: because the Crimson Elite provides ships for its hunters, it would be unprofitable for them to allow those ships to fall into enemy hands or to allow them to be impounded. Since the highest death rate is among new recruits, Captains are sent to save the new recruits if feasible, and recover their vehicles if not. Most officers skip the rank of Captain.

Majors are the freelancers of the Crimson Elite. With full access to the archives of bounties given to the Crimson Elite, they operate almost independently of the organization itself. They pay only a nominal fee per bounty, and most have secured their own ships. Because they are best bounty hunters in the organization, they are often given special high-profile assignments from high ups in the Empire.

Commodore is more an honorrific than a rank. Any member of the Crimson Elite can be a Commodore, no matter their previous rank. Commodores are those individuals who run the space stations in the Crimson Elite. They are the highest executive power on any individual station, but any Commodore who ignores a command from a Colonel had better have a good reason. There exists only one case of a Commodore who denied the Admiral and wasn't executed: he died in combat before the Admiral could get to him.

Colonel is more than just a rank in the Crimson Elite. It is a symbol of status given to the thirteen best and brightest bounty hunters in the organization. They are the administrators, running the organization. They rarely take bounties personally, but when they do they never fail.

The Admiral is the highest executive officer of the Crimson Elite. While the Colonels keep the organization running, the Admiral makes all the highest decisions. If the Admiral doesn't know it, it isn't important to the Crimson Elite. His decisions are final, even the Colonels can only offer advice or dissenting opinions. Those of lower rank who speak out against the Admiral are discharged or summarily executed for mutiny. The Admiral answers directly to Mandalore.