Venkor Kess
Background
Venkor began life as a low profile smuggler, moving small-time contraband that wasn't illegal enough to earn much pay. Eventually, he worked his way to smuggle goods for more exclusive clients. However, constantly working for crime lords and other underground thugs wore thin on him. He tired of being under appreciated and under paid.
Venkor felt that he could gain some personal freedom if he was able to have his own ship and fly as a mercenary fighter pilot. He sought out a loan shark associated with the Besadii clan on Nar Shaddaa. The loan shark gave Venkor the funds he needed to purchase a Firespray-31 and make the necessary modifications to ensure his success and timely loan payments.
Venkor mostly tried to avoid becoming involved in the Galactic Civil War. The Empire rarely hired mercenaries, especially non-human mercs, and most of the jobs that the Rebels offered were much too suicidal for Venkor's tastes. The abuse and practical enslavement of his own species on his homework of Dac naturally upset him, but he mostly blamed the War in general---not solely the Empire---for the condition of things.
As for the inevitable victor of the War he was more or less indifferent to a government controlled by the Emperor or the Alliance. Trading one government for another affected his daily life very little, seeing how he avoided the authorities on most occasions. Empire or republic, the laws making his type of work illegal would likely still exist.
Eventually, Venkor's success as a mercenary hit a low point. After a botched escort mission, it became difficult for Venkor to find jobs that would pay enough to cover his expenses. Soon enough, his loan shark started to pressure him to make payments on time. After a few more missed payments, Venkor's life hit a low point.
Not knowing where to turn, Venkor looked through his list of old contacts from his smuggling days. He came across the name of Ryce Treldo, an old smuggler who he heard was working with the Rebel Alliance now. Suddenly, joining the Alliance seemed like a reasonable option. After the Rebel's success on Yavin, Venkor thought that maybe the Rebels really did have a chance at taking down the Empire. He thought that joining now might not be the suicidal act that he always held it to be.
