I am playing a Mon Cal, Engineer-Scientist eventually headed into mechanic. He is altruistic, avoids authority figures, often misses sarcasm or metaphor, and is a recent graduate of the Coral Coligium. My motivation is discovery and my duty is resource acquisitions.

We are on a homestead on a planet in wild space. I do not really want it to be a game changing thing but a character shaping thing. I can see him with a few conspiracy theories but he is well reasoned and far from a nut job.

Anything not evil is something to take into consideration. I would love to hear some ideas.

I am sorry, citizen, but any information concerning Secret Societies is currently placed at Security Clearance VIOLET by Friend Computer. ADDENDUM: Reading any of the words contained within this warning without appropriate security clearance is considered treason. Please proceed directly to your nearest available Termination Booth. Thank you for your mandatory cooperation. Have a nice daycycle!

Something like Freemasonry could be easily adapted. Instead of building King Solomons temple they could have built the various jedi temples placed throughout the galaxy or even Sith tombs (or both to make it really interesting) and they continue their tradition working in various construction and technological capacities to this day(maybe even the Deathstars) and have meetings, and maybe even ride around on speeder bikes wearing tasseled hats in parades. Characters that are members may be able to get access to plans revealing secret passages and such that no else can.

Something like a rebel cell perhaps?

Could easily come up with some otherwise harmless club of intellectuals discussing possible trade agreements or political discussion maybe unknown to you a couple of members are Imperial Agents assigned to find sedition and they get the rest of you up on trumped up charges to allow the Empire to step in and take over?

As for secret society types could have a trade federation in the making or another group of mad scientists designing the next Death Star-like weapon of mass destruction or just a computer, TV or movie fanclub perhaps even cosplay!

From your description I would assume that "Secret Physicists" or "The Church of Sheldon" would be appropriate?

But something like the Freemasons in early USA (depending of which conspiracy theory you adhere to, I guess ) would fit nicely: free thinkers that love debating and want to uphold the ideas of democracy, liberty and scienctific progress and oppose imperial totalitarianism. For something more public have a look at German Carnival: It was meant to hide the French revolution's democracy in plain sight (Initials of Égalité, Liberté, Fraternité are E L F, which in German is 11 and the Carnival Societies have a leading committee of 11 people, etc.).

Another route would be hackers in the broad range between the Chaos Computer Club and Anonymous, especially if he has "Speak binary" or "Code-breaker" or something. He wouldn't have to be a slicer himself - he could contribute on the maths side. Then, later on he could become a fully-fledged slicer.

Edit: spelling & clarification

I'd say from a mechanics standpoint, open up the Obligation mechanic from Edge of the Empire. Favor would work pretty well for this, but your GM could also rule, from a narrative standpoint, that your character can, say, call in a Favor by increasing his Obligation, or get a loan from another member in the Secret Society by taking on some Debt Obligation. Circumstances for failing to pay the debt might not result in a bounty hunter coming after the character, but perhaps increase the Favor Obligation even more. It would be a nice way to simulate the back-and-forth backroom deals that supposedly go on in secret societies. It'd also be a nice way to give the character access to something the other characters might not have without giving the player too much of an advantage.

On what planet is the character living? (Is it a homebrew world or one from existing sources?)

The first thought which comes to mind is the Cult of Those Who Redeem, but that's based out of Elrood Sector. Still, a transplant Meri or Teltior from Merisee could have founded a local chapter.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Cult_of_Those_Who_Redeem

-Nate

Quarren Defamation League. Focuses on dominating the quarren people, stealing their scientific and cultural advances and keeps them as second class citizens.

Or the Peoples Front of Dac, not to be confused with the Dac Peoples Front.

Thanks guys. Some great ideas here. I will discuss with my GM and get back to you and let you know what we worked out.