Is there a way to do this?

I'm sure there is.  Take a look at the Boba Fett code for clues.

I think there is, I mean it would work just like Boba Currently does wouldn't it!

This is from a mod I did awhile ago incorporating Pirates as a playable faction. In genericherounits.xml this is my code for a pirate smuggler flying a virago. I don't think you have to edit herocompanies.xml. You can ignore the abilities, it give him superspying, but siphon doesn't work, but it could very well work if the affiliation was changed to Rebel or Empire.

 

       <GenericHeroUnit Name="Generic_Smuggler_P">
	<Text_ID>TEXT_HERO_UNIT_SMUGGLER</Text_ID>
	<GUI_Row> 1 </GUI_Row>
	<Icon_Name>i_button_smuggler.tga</Icon_Name>
	<Mass>1.0</Mass>
	<Scale_Factor>1.0</Scale_Factor>
	<Is_Sprite>No</Is_Sprite>
	<Type>Walk</Type>
	<Affiliation>Pirates</Affiliation>
	<Political_Control>0</Political_Control>
	<Size_Value>75</Size_Value>
	<Damage>2</Damage>
	<Autoresolve_Health>30</Autoresolve_Health>
	<Is_Generic_Hero>Yes</Is_Generic_Hero>
	<Attach_To_Flagship_During_Space_Battle>no</Attach_To_Flagship_During_Space_Battle>
	<Unique_Space_Unit>Virago</Unique_Space_Unit>
	<Stay_In_Transport_During_Ground_Battle>Yes</Stay_In_Transport_During_Ground_Battle>


	<Neutralization_Cost>50.0</Neutralization_Cost>
	<Can_Be_Neutralized_By_Major_Heroes>Yes</Can_Be_Neutralized_By_Major_Heroes>
	<Can_Be_Neutralized_By_Minor_Heroes>Yes</Can_Be_Neutralized_By_Minor_Heroes>

	<CategoryMask> SpaceHero </CategoryMask>

	<Ranking_In_Category> 3 </Ranking_In_Category>

	<Death_SFXEvent_Start_Die>RHD_Smuggler_Lost</Death_SFXEvent_Start_Die>

	<Encyclopedia_Text>TEXT_TOOLTIP_SMUGGLER</Encyclopedia_Text>
	<Encyclopedia_Unit_Class>TEXT_ENCYCLOPEDIA_CLASS_HERO_MINOR</Encyclopedia_Unit_Class>


	<Abilities SubObjectList="Yes">

		<Galactic_Stealth_Ability Name="Smuggler_Galactic_Stealth">
			<Initially_Enabled>Yes</Initially_Enabled>
			<Activation_Style>Galactic_Automatic</Activation_Style>
			<Causes_Despawn>No</Causes_Despawn>
			<Evade_Detection_Chance>0.0</Evade_Detection_Chance>
		</Galactic_Stealth_Ability>

		<Siphon_Credits_Ability Name="Smuggler_Siphon_Credits">
			<Initially_Enabled>Yes</Initially_Enabled>
			<Activation_Style>Ground_Activated</Activation_Style>
			<Causes_Despawn>Yes</Causes_Despawn>
			<Min_Siphon_Percentage>0.5</Min_Siphon_Percentage>
			<Max_Siphon_Percentage>0.5</Max_Siphon_Percentage>
			<Siphon_Duration_In_Cycles>5</Siphon_Duration_In_Cycles>
			<SFXEvent_Activate> Unit_Galactic_Siphon_Smuggler </SFXEvent_Activate>
		</Siphon_Credits_Ability>

		<System_Spy_Ability Name="Smuggler_Limited_Spy">
			<Initially_Enabled>Yes</Initially_Enabled>
			<Activation_Style>Galactic_Automatic</Activation_Style>
			<Causes_Despawn>No</Causes_Despawn>
			<Duration_In_Secs>-1.0</Duration_In_Secs>
			<See_Num_Fleets>Yes</See_Num_Fleets>
			<See_Base_Levels>Yes</See_Base_Levels>
			<See_Credit_Income>Yes</See_Credit_Income>
			<See_Credit_Income_Breakdown>Yes</See_Credit_Income_Breakdown>
			<See_Num_Fleets>Yes</See_Num_Fleets>
			<See_Fleet_Contents>yes</See_Fleet_Contents>
			<See_Num_Ground_Companies>Yes</See_Num_Ground_Companies>
			<See_Ground_Company_Contents>Yes</See_Ground_Company_Contents>
			<See_Special_Structures>Yes</See_Special_Structures>
			<See_Political_Control>Yes</See_Political_Control>
			<See_Political_Control_Breakdown>Yes</See_Political_Control_Breakdown>
			<See_Current_Production>Yes</See_Current_Production>
			<See_Minor_Stealth_Heroes>Yes</See_Minor_Stealth_Heroes>
			<See_Major_Stealth_Heroes>Yes</See_Major_Stealth_Heroes>
		</System_Spy_Ability>

	</Abilities>
</GenericHeroUnit>

TIE_Prototype

 

*whistles*

I did. I gave smuggles their own ships and they could particpate in battles.