Background
Hondo was a foundling on Ord Mantell. He was unwanted and had the misfortune to be adopted at a very young age into a crime family known as "The Sons of Misfortune". Family was a loose term that the head of the organization used to describe his collection of misfit thieves and spies. Hondo hated his upbringing with a passion. The Leader of this family simply went by the moniker The Patriarch. He was cruel and demanded absolute obedience from his charges. When he was old enough to break away he borrowed enough money to buy his a ship and venture off on his own. The problem that he ran in to is that his family had a lot of pull in their home system and took over the note on his ship. Now he must earn as much money as he can so that he can pay off The Patriarch and be free.
Motivation
Hondo is driven by his desire to be free and not under anyone's thumb. He hates being told what to do and often acts contrary to authority even when it is obviously a bad idea.