My family were peasants. I grew up near Ings Installation on Mbukaravi 5. My parents were stationed there as a research team originally, but got assigned by the Nobles to doing maintenance and repairs on the old generating station. It was not a good childhood. The station was maybe 20 families and the best outcome was to get assigned work in Ings as a laborer or moved in-system to one of the refineries.

I got my break when I was 18. A visiting explorer ship set down for repairs and I offered to help out. I stowed away on that dirty Asp Ex and the Commander took pity on me. I was lucky she didn't turn me over to the Nobles right then, or dumped me out the cargo hatch, but I think she saw something in me. Maybe it was my imagination. She dropped me off in LHS 3447 at Worlidge Terminal. She gave me 50 credits and introduced me to a fixer she knew who set me up with a new identity and a mechanical closet he said was an apartment. I didn't care. It was my new home.

I worked. Started in the commissary for a couple of years before getting a break and moving to the docks. I worked refuelling ships, while I studied engineering. I moved up to technician, then technician first class. Made my way through the ranks to journeyman with specialties in FSDs and engine systems. Some secondary on power and distribution systems.

I know my way around the insides of a ship.

Sixteen years was enough of that and I was able to buy my first ship. A beat up little sidewinder. She wasn't much, but I loved her and made her my own. By the time I moved up to the Cobra, that Sidewinder was a hot little ship. Still have her berthed at Worlidge. Maybe I'll go back and take her out for one more flight someday...