Work in Progress

In the Empire, and to a lesser extent Republics Old and New, most of the galaxy is civilized, and civilized people don't appreciate heavily armed ne'er-do-wells running rampant. The vast majority of all lethal weapons, personal or starship-sized, are licensed, restricted, or just plain illegal. This would tend to put a damper on the whole adventuring thing.

But fear not! There are opportunities aplenty for those who would traipse through the galaxy, blasting foes into oblivion for fun and profit!

Essentially, there are three paths:

• The Low Road: Embrace your inner criminal. If one blaster rifle makes you a public enemy, why not have a fleet of heavily-armed pirate ships? Where law and reason can't protect you, numbers and ruthlessness can. You can make quite a fortune for yourself terrorizing the Outer Rim, carving yourself a nice pirate kingdom out of the hide of some less-ruthless pirate's former holding.
• The High Road: Where there are pirates, there are pirate hunters. Those who who serve the Empire or Republic by ridding the galaxy of those dreaded pirates can earn a higher standing than an ordinary citizen, even without joining a formal security agency. Bounty hunters and mercenaries who hold a high standard can do well in public service, gaining the right to wield powerful weapons against those who would harm the innocent.
• The Hidden Road: Without committing to any particular moral ideology, one can avoid security concerns simply by avoiding secure areas. The galaxy is a big place, and no amount of lines on a map can negate that; it's quite possible to sail right through even Core World space without coming anywhere near an Imperial patrol. Through trickery, deceit, and cleverness, smugglers and the like can make their fortune without attracting too many Imperial entanglements.

And there are plenty of other odd jobs you can do, legally or otherwise:

• Scavenging: The Imperial Trade and Commerce Authority issues licenses to scavenge in approved areas to those with the necessary security standing. Experts estimate the total value of all derelict materiel from the Clone Wars still adrift and aground at over 15,000,000,000,000,000 credits.
• Secure Freight and Transit: Those who prove both trustworthy and capable in low-sec space are often hired to transport important cargo or personnel to otherwise dangerous areas. Such jobs may be available through government agencies to those of high security standing, or through word of mouth and reputation when working outside normal channels.