Imperial Intelligence often used torture and various methods of brainwashing to create sleeper agents: agents who were unconsciously conditioned to perform some task. Their "patients" would be allowed to reunite with the Rebellion after conditioning; they themselves would have no memory of what had happened to them or what they were conditioned to do. Then, at an opportune time, Imperial Intelligence would activate the agent's conditioning, causing him or her to commit murder, sabotage, theft, or other acts without the ability to control themselves.