[So how would you rank Cal Kestis?]

I'd put him on par with Jarris. Partly trained but not weak and able to, with effort, take down Inquisitors.

[Faction change ?]

This will probably be the case. While it could be easy to see the transition from KJ to SW or JC to SI, going from Trooper to IA or Smuggler to BH would be more difficult to pull off from a story perspective. This makes me believe that the Alliance will formally become an "associated power" of the Sith Empire or the Republic--assuming in 5.10 we don't see the Alliance formally dissolve. If the Alliance dissolves, it just seems far more likely that characters would return to their original faction.

 

My fave example is as a SI when the defeating scientists suggests you join them and you can say something along the lines of Maybe I will." In my LS play thrus I've always wished I could actually follow thru, instead the closest you can do is low key admit that you're a Light Sider and smuggle them into Republic Space with a travel authorization.

[andronikos to many convos after tatooine]

You could always NOT do the covos.