My name is Wilhelm Erlkoenig. I am an independent commander in the Pilot's Federation. And this is my story.

I was born on Lave in the year 3274. My family was a merchant family that owns the Lave Fortune Organization. My family included my father, my mother, my older brother, me, and then my twin sisters. My father controls the corporation. My mother, while thoroughly obedient to my father, would run the household affairs. My brother is now on the board of the corporation, but I have heard rumors of him being involved in The Club. One of my twin sisters is married to an Imperial Duke in Eotienses, while the other is living at home.

Coming from a wealthy family does not have its perks all of the time though. My father was very stern and a controlling figure when I was growing up. He was excellent in his business acumen but would try to run his family in the similar rigid fashion as he ran his corporation. While my brother found a way to please him, I found it more difficult to gain favor with my father. This was perhaps because of, or the cause of, my independent personality.

I spent most of my childhood reading books in my father's library. Knowledge, and my insatiable consumption thereof, was the one thing that I held in common with my father. But I would read any chance that got, while my brother would spend his free time partying with his friends (and usually getting into trouble). I would read the most of Old Earth history, the sciences of physics and chemistry, practical engineering, of space flight and navigation, astronomy, and even a little bit of agriculture. If I wasn't reading I would daydream about the things I read, and would often dream about traveling among the stars.

I was put through a boarding school when I was 14. Every male in my family's history was expected to go to a boarding school to learn discipline, respect for authority, and to continue tradition. I hated going to the boarding school for this, and I would often be at odds with my teachers for questioning all aspects of my education at the boarding school. But despite my personality, I did manage to earn top marks when I graduated. 4 years later I began attending university (also another male tradition in my family), where I studied astronomical navigation and mechanical engineering, despite my father's insistence on business studies. While I continued to ask questions incessantly in university, here I was encouraged by my professors to grow the independent thinking side of my personality. This continued to anger my father, driving our relationship apart to the point where he and my family did not attend my graduation from the university.

I entered service into the Pilot's Federation for the next 6 years, where I continued to hone my skills of astronomical navigation and of ship engineering. I was also given a co-pilot's role on many ships towards the end of my service. When the end of my service came, my class was given the choice of our own ships. The larger, fancier, and more well equipped ships were quickly taken by others in my class, so I was left with a specialized Sidewinder as my first ship. And thus began my current career as an independent commander.

I continued to work for the Pilot's Federation as a contractor for a time. I eventually moved out into other parts of the Bubble as my reputation as a trader began to grow. I traded my Sidewinder for first and Adder, and then a Type 6 as my small trading enterprise continued to grow. But I began to feel a calling towards a cause that I could feel good being a part of. I began to hear of a corporation out towards and beyond Federation space. Some of the stories seemed like tall tales, but an agent of this corporation said that I might be good fit. And thus I sought out, found, and began my association with Alchemy Den.

Soon after joining Alchemy Den, I began to expand my services with the corporation, going from simple trading into mining, bounty hunting, and even fighting in a couple of wars for the corporation. All the while my fleet of ships has continued to grow and my enterprise has continued to flourish. Thinking back now, I try to imagine how different my life could have been if I had submitted to my father's wishes and joined him with his corporation. Even if I haven't spoken to him in 7 years, I am certain he would still be proud of me and the life I have built for myself among the stars.