The Peacekeepers are a militaristic organization on Farscape.

Originally set up as a law enforcement agency, by the series' start, they have degenerated into a mercenary force. The organization is made up almost entirely of Sebaceans, but it also includes the half-breed Scorpius. Aeryn Sun is a former Peacekeeper turned renegade.

They frequently capture Leviathans and their Pilots to use them as troop or prisoner transports; Moya and Pilot were captives for many years.

History

27,000 years ago, the Eidelons decided to create a galaxy-wide peace-keeping force. They chose an unknown, primitive species (implied to be humans) and advanced their evolution, giving them "generous alterations" along the way. This race became the Sebaceans and were trained as the Eidelons' acolytes, the Peacekeepers.

However, when the Eidelons disappeared from Arnessk 15,000 years later, the Peacekeepers devolved into an authoritarian force. According to Yondalao, "... lacking [the Eidelons'] mediation abilities, [the Peacekeepers] kept peace the only way they could — at the muzzle of a weapon."

With the arrival of John Crichton and his wormhole knowledge, the Peacekeepers' already tense relationship with the Scarrans quickly deteriorates into an all-out war, as depicted in the miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.

The Farscape comic book reveals that Crichton's destruction of Qujaga with his wormhole weapon has lead to widespread desertion among the Peacekeepers, and Grayza struggles to hold onto power. She is ultimately overthrown, and Aeryn Sun takes her place as commandant.

Life as a PK

PKs live on large ships called Command Carriers. These vessels contain quarters, mess halls, training grounds, research facilities, and more.

Sebaceans are sometimes drafted into the Peacekeeper military as children; Bialar and Tauvo Crais were forcibly taken from their parents by the Peacekeepers.

The SciFi.com website expands on this:

“Peacekeeper society is a harsh, unforgiving meritocracy. Success is rewarded quickly and richly, and failure is punished brutally. Sebacean children are born and reared aboard Command Carriers, trained from infancy to be elite soldiers, to follow orders without question. Subordinates display unwavering loyalty to their superiors, unless they perceive a weakness that can be exploited.”

Organization

Rules

The Peacekeepers have strict policies on interacting with unclassified alien lifeforms. Aeryn is deemed "irreversibly contaminated" for mingling with the Moya crew and is outcasted.

Peacekeepers also value genetic purity within their ranks, although exceptions like Scorpius, Co-Kura Strappa, and Linfer are sometimes made. Nevertheless, half-breeds, such as Jothee, are looked down upon by Peacekeepers.

Peacekeeper High Command assigns procreation; no PK soldier is allowed to have relations with another unless explicitly permitted. When Xhalax Sun had an unsanctioned child with Talyn Lyczac, she was ordered to kill either her daughter or her lover.

Those charged with a crime are placed on trial in front of a Peacekeeper tribunal, consisting of three PK officers. Likewise, only a tribunal can release convicted criminals.

Ranks

Per the SciFi.com website:

“Within the ranks of the Peacekeepers, there appears to be a hierarchy that places intelligence operatives at the top, elite soldiers and pilots second, other combat personnel third, military doctors and technicians below soldiers, and civilian scientists and advisers at the bottom.”

Season 4 introduced the commandant rank (Mele-On Grayza), which was the highest rank to-date until The Peacekeeper Wars, with Grand Chancellor Maryk. However, both report to the unseen, though oft-mentioned, Peacekeeper High Command.

Technology

In addition to Command Carriers, Peacekeepers operate a number of vessels, including Prowlers, Marauders, and Vigilantes.

Gammak Bases are secret Peacekeeper facilities where scientific research is conducted. PK research programs include memory extraction (in the form of the Aurora Chair) and wormhole weapon development.

Notes

• The Peacekeeper symbol is based on the 1919 Bolshevik propaganda poster Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge by El Lissitzky.

External links

• SciFi's Peacekeeper description