An Alpha Team represented a compact exploratory unit utilized by the Imperial Bureau of Stellar Charts and Surveys. Their purpose was to execute the Bureau's mandate of galactic exploration of the galaxy. These teams were tasked with surveying newly found planets, and leveraged the skills of various experts. These included scientists, cartographers, astrophysicists, geologists, as well as professionals in sociology, linguistics, and xenobiology. They also used state-of-the-art equipment to achieve their goals. The labor droid named Bollux previously worked with an Alpha Team following his manumission from his duties at the Fondor Shipyards.