Note: This is an initial/rough draft of my character biography/history. As development continues, some things may change to fit the game universe better. Christopher Leonin - generally just going by Chris or Leo for short - was born in a small pioneer settlement on the Qoph plains, just outside of New Junction on Lo, in the Corel system. While New Junction is a bustling economic hub, the surrounding areas are undeveloped and home to settlers that are looking to be close enough to civilization to benefit from it, while being far enough to feel free of it. Leonin's upbringing, as a result, was a perfect mixture of 'city' and 'country' life; he learned to rely on himself and to develop a versatile skillset, while also having enough contact with both Human and Banu merchants to develop solid secondhand knowledge of the galaxy at large. Despite his close contact with the Banu, however, Leonin never had a good grasp for languages, and still struggles with spoken Banu to this day. The constant sight of thousands of starships flying over New Junction every day instilled Leonin with the urge to become a spacefarer himself - unlike his parents, who were content to work the land and live a simple life on the plains. Leonin longed to join a crew, pilot a starship, and even be a captain of his own ship one day, but with no credits or resources he couldn't afford to get offworld by civilian means. After coming of age, Leonin made his way to the local UEEN recruiting post in New Junction and signed over the next years of his life to the service of the Empire. Initially, Leonin was assigned to the UEE Navy's Corps. of Engineers, as his upbringing had left him quite proficient with tools, repairs, and a general knowledge of mechanical systems. However, during his first year of active service, when stationed at the UEEN resupply station Jericho in the Stanton System as a starship mechanic, a CAP pilot - Lieutenant Jason Wolfe - took note of Leonin's adept handling of an Argo MPUV the young mechanic was using to shuttle repair parts to a Javelin in dock. Wolfe recommended Leonin for a transfer to pilot training, and just over a year later Leonin found himself flying combat drills in an Ares starfighter as part of a CAS/Strike Support squadron. Regardless of his potential as a fighter pilot, military service was a means to an end for Leonin, and that end was not a military career. Following the fulfilment of his enlistment term, Leonin resigned from the UEEN and applied to Intergalactic Airlines - one of the largest passenger liner corporations within the Empire - and became a Genesis Starliner pilot for the next several years, using his new career as an opportunity to not only tour the galaxy on company fare, but get paid well to do so. Leonin lived frugally during this period of his life, saving nearly all of his pay where possible with the intent of, one day, buying his own starship and touring the galaxy on his own terms. During the course of his work for Intergalactic Airlines, Leonin became well acquainted with a frequent flyer - an entrepreneur named James Taylor - and the two became fast friends. Taylor made business arrangements throughout the Empire, and always used public transit despite his wealth, a habit Leonin found curious given what he knew of other 'rich' spacers. Eventually, Taylor let him in on the reason: His dealings were not always legitimate, he had many enemies within rival corporations and endeavors, and public transit was generally the safest and most anonymous way to get around the galaxy without attracting attention. An assassination attempt from one of those rivals on his personal yacht had left James quite weary and overly careful. When Taylor was sure he could trust Leonin, he proposed an offer: Terminate his employment with Intergalactic Airlines, and join Taylor and his associates for a once in a lifetime job. Leonin wearily agreed, and once the formalities and introductions had taken place he became part of Taylor's crew of misfits and renegades - individuals from all walks of life looking to strike it rich with Taylor's offer. The Job: salvage a lost ship containing cargo valuable beyond their wildest dreams. The caveat: the vessel to be salvaged had been lost for years behind Vanduul lines. Taylor's mysterious informants had given him the approximate location of the derelict, drifting in the Orion system, which meant their team would have to sneak past active Vanduul clan patrols just to reach it, and then return with the prize. The operation force consisted of three ships: A Drake Herald, a Drake Vulture, and a Drake Cutlass - all ships procured legitimately by Taylor's business accounts to keep the advocacy and UEE looking the other way. Leonin was to pilot the Herald, with Taylor onboard operating the scanning and electronic warfare systems to keep their group hidden from both Vanduul and UEEN forces. The Vulture would handle any salvage logistics needed to access the prize, and the Cutlass carried muscle and space for cargo on the return trip. The target was a lost UEEN courier ship - a Crusader Industries built "Mercury"-class Star Runner - that at the time of its disappearance was carrying prototype weapons and components to the military front line, as well as encrypted intelligence ranging from military IFF and access codes to classified strategic information regarding the war effort and Vanduul fleet movements. Taylor had already lined up buyers for both the data and the cargo, and had promised every member of the operation an equal share: three million credits each. The operation ran into several close calls on the way to the target, including a Vanduul patrol that had to be dispatched before it could report their location, but in the end it was a success. The Vulture turned out to be unnecessary, as the Derelict was still in good shape; computer logs showed that the Courier had run into a Vanduul patrol while en route to a UEEN flagship, and despite shaking its pursuers the powerplant was disabled. The crew, left with no power to call for help or move the ship, succumbed when the air in their ship was no longer breathable. A spare reactor from the Vulture was used to bring the vessel back online, and Leonin flew the Mercury back to less hostile space, escorted by the other three ships. When it came time for payment, Leonin made a deal with Taylor: He would forfeit the credit reward in exchange for the ship, re-registered as a legitimate salvage under his name. Taylor agreed, and as they parted ways he commented, "Y'know, I think you got the lion's share out of this deal, that ship is worth more than 3 million credits." Leonin went on to name the ship "Lions Share" - a homage to the parting comment and the business partner who made his dream of becoming his own starship captain possible, taking note of the fitting irony that his own surname - Leonin - was derived from the term 'Lion'. Now, Christopher Leonin lives as a freelance captain, touring the galaxy in the Lions Share and taking whatever jobs come his way; no aim, no plan, just a man and his ship, a home in the stars.