Haraldsen was born in 3272 on an obscure outpost near the Pleiades Nebula, where her parents worked as miners for a small corporation. She never knew her real name or origin, as her parents died during the unrest that accompanied the outbreak of an epidemic when she was a toddler still. She was adopted by a group of traders who provided the outpost with medicine, and they later gave her the name Haraldsen, in reference to certain viking tendencies she has.

Haraldsen, who developed a liking for her new name, grew up among those traders and also smugglers, learning the skills of piloting, trading, and mining. She often accompanied her new family on expeditions to Guardian sites, where they collected valuable artifacts and data, and developed a fascination for Guardian technology, and the mysterious relics they left behind.

When she was 19, Haraldsen decided to join the Imperial Navy, hoping to see more of the galaxy and earn some prestige. She enrolled in the Imperial Academy, where she excelled in piloting and navigation. She was assigned to a Cutter, a large and powerful spaceship, and served in the Navy for six years, participating successively in several missions. However, Haraldsen soon became bored with the Imperial way of life, especially of having to follow the rules and chain of command. She missed the freedom and adventure of her trader days, and the thrill of exploring Guardian sites. She decided to leave the Navy, but not without taking a Cutter with her, using her contacts and skills to forge some documents which also gave her access to prismatic shields.