were they really in it for the money? Or were they simply hired by the First Order, with, presumably, promises of better payment?
Não, eles certamente NÃO foram contratados pela First Order, já que o relatório pós-ação dos bandidos é como a First Order descobriu sobre o BB-8 estar com HAN em primeiro lugar (os gangsters se você se lembra, estava caçando Han em seu navio de carga , e só acidentalmente encontrou o Falcon quando Han capturou na hora certa):
In another part of the vessel, safely sealed off behind the blast doors that slammed shut immediately following the breach of hull integrity caused by the Falcon’s unorthodox departure, a battered and infuriated Bala-Tik took time out from bemoaning the loss of his men and equipment to activate a deep-space contact via the freighter’s still-functional communications system. Caught in the Falcon’s explosive departure, his own vessel was in no condition to pursue. Neither was that belonging to the Kanjiklub. But…others might be. If he couldn’t collect what Solo owed him, there remained the possibility of a reward for information.
Contact established, he spoke into the pickup. “My name is Bala-Tik. I am a Guavian trader. My personal history is available for general assessment by any who care to research it. My reputation is verifiable. I am letting it be known that the individual Han Solo is likely in possession of the droid that is the subject of a search by the First Order. And that it and Solo together with an unknown number of allies are presently aboard the vessel known as the Millennium Falcon: destination unknown. I hereby lay claim to any reward that has been established for information leading to recovery of said droid by the First Order.” (Foster's novelization)
Note que o SE ele não conseguiu coletar o que Solo lhe devia "- já que esta é a voz do narrador dentro de sua cabeça, provavelmente foi seu motivo verdadeiro original.
O script WGA é muito mais breve e não oferece nenhum insight, mas confirma o acima:
INT. CARGO SHIP - DAY
PUSH IN on a HANGAR DOOR where Bala-Tik arrives at the window, SEETHING. Makes a CALL:
BALA-TIK
Inform the First Order that Han Solo has the droid they want. And it's aboard the Millennium Falcon.