Imperial Peace-Keeping Certificate/Legends
The Imperial Peace-Keeping Certificate (or IPKC) was issued by the Imperial Office of Criminal Investigations to beings who intended to hunt bounties. It was frequently known as the bounty hunter's "license to operate".[1]
The IPKC was conceived by the Bounty Hunters' Guild to prevent amateurs getting in the way of their business. It proved the holder was entitled to hunt bounties and receive full payment upon completion. It required a one-time 1,000 credit fee, payable to any government licensing bureau. Anyone who delivered a bounty without this permit was only eligible for half the listed reward.[2]
During eras not dominated by the Galactic Empire, similar documents with different names were used. They were often issued by many different governments (including the Chiss Ascendancy), so a bounty hunter might hold several permits to work in different areas.[2]
The IPKC outlined what was required of the bounty hunters in their pursuit and capture of their quarry. There were several notable rules:
- First, unless the bounty was posted as "Dead or Alive", it was to be captured alive.[1]
- Second, the quarry must be given the chance to surrender. However, "flight, refusal to comply with the directives of a registered hunter, prior activities indicating a predisposition to resistance to capture, resistance, or assault" is considered refusal to surrender.[1]
- Third, injury, incapacitation or death of the quarry may only occur if the quarry has refused to surrender peacefully, however, the same exceptions that apply to the second rule also apply to this one.[1]
- Fourth, only a reasonable amount of force is to be used.[1]
- Fifth, the holder of the IPKC must promise not to accept any "illegal" bounties.[1]
Appearances
- Rookies: Rendezvous
"Tatooine Manhunt" – Classic Adventures: Volume Three
"To Fight Another Day" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 6- "Only Droids Serve the Maker" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 10 (as Imperial bounty license)
- "Two for the Price of One" – Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
- "Gone To Ground" – No Disintegrations (as bounty hunter license)
- "Seregar Turnabout" – No Disintegrations
- "Elusive" – No Disintegrations
"Waystation"—The Kathol Rift - "Endgame"—Endgame
Sources
- Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim (First mentioned)
- Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
- Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters, Second Edition (As "Imperial bounty hunter certification")
- Alliance Intelligence Reports
- The Kathol Outback
- Live-Action Adventures (as hunter authority card)
- Shadows of the Empire Planets Guide
- The Black Sands of Socorro (as bounty hunting license)
- Lords of the Expanse (as bounty hunter permit)
- Player's Guide to Tapani
"Bounties to Die For"—Star Wars Gamer 6- Scum and Villainy
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook