Faction point

Faction Points are given when a player successfully completes a mission given by that faction, as well as when a player kills an NPC or player of opposite faction. Imperial and Rebel faction points can be used to initially join a faction, gain rank (in order to have a higher cap to accumulate more faction points), and to earn rewards from recruiters. These rewards include factional armor, factional pets, experience, and other items. Factions not related to the GCW only determine whether these NPC's will aggro on you, or if you're able to talk to key NPC's (such as Jabba the Hut).

Usually, whenever you gain faction points from killing a faction opponent, you also lose more points from the opposite faction. Unlike Rebel and Imperial, minor factions aren't always visa versa in faction points. For example, killing Valarians will cause you to lose Valarian faction and gain Jabba faction. Killing Jabba NPC's will cause you to lose Jabba faction, but not gain Valarian faction.

Also, if you are killed by a player of the opposite faction, you will lose some points of your own faction.