The ambition

The year is 1136 AOEE humanity has consumed the known galaxy. Almost every planet has had a human presence on it. The most notable presence being the signs of war. Democratic Governments exist, multiple empires exist, oligarchs exist, kings and queens exist, corporatocracies exist, religious theocracies exist, even warlords who hold together bands of warriors exist. These forms of power are but a few; there are many more. Some better than others, some which are worse than hell. One of these is a faction that holds no real allegiance to any given way of life or government, the freeholders. Freeholders is just a catch-all term for any groups of people who hold dominion in a place in the galaxy but are not criminals, outlaws, or pirates. They have their own laws and way of life but are willing to trade and be cordial to any other entity, even scum. The freeholders are independent and keep their independence either through a guarantee of independence by a larger faction or by forming alliances with other nearby freeholders and having enough strength to keep their claims. Not aligned with one another they fight to defend each other. Though they have their differences, and they make it very clear to leave each other alone or else. This is where our two main characters were then transported to Orphanage 56. Triton X and Vhilem X were abandoned and like many other orphans were automatically transported to an orphanage. With untold trillions of humans out there, many children are abandoned. Some have access to the vast network of automated rehousing ships made to carry thousands of kids through space to find a place to call home, and at an affordable price! Some don’t, and those grow up as street rats living through whatever means necessary. Rumor has it that the kids are better off growing up as rats since cradle ships sometimes have kids disappear, but those are just rumors.

Orphanage 56 located on planet Granth was nothing special. It was safe, poor, and serene. Granth is a peaceful agriworld whose chief export is coal. Coal in this age is useful for many things other than energy. Materials to make buildings, weapons, but most of all a cheap resource for the re-atomizer. The re-atomizer is a machine capable of deatomizing and reconfiguring said atoms to whatever you need. Carbon, and therefore coal, is easy to source in large quantities and has a simple atomic structure. Granted, if the planet has an atmosphere, air and helium become a far greater source for the re-atomizer. 

Although the re-atomizer by itself has its limitations. Mainly in creating complex creations, living creatures and good tasting food. Its main drawback is how long it takes to create any given thing since ripping atoms and reassembling them takes time and energy. Its extreme cost of energy being one fusion cell makes the re-atomizer become a handy tool that can build colonies, help adventurers, and many other uses, but on a large scale a factory is still best.

Triton at a young age worked in said coal mines. Child labor laws being nonexistent on Granth let Triton work to make money for him and his brothers futures. The work was long and grueling, but Triton never once cried or complained. The orphanage is kind enough to subsidize their basic needs, so any money they make is theirs to keep, and with vhilem having ambitions for the future, Triton gets to work. Vhilem holds ambitions of wanting to become something great. Sometimes Vhilem would daydream of having an empire that would be Just, powerful, and super cool. Growing up, vhilem was very charismatic, quick-witted, and kind-hearted. He didn't enjoy seeing his brother go to work knowing the mines are dangerous, but Triton didn’t care. In fact, not caring defines Triton to a T. He has no aspirations for the future, no care for others, no care for himself. He just does as he’s told and is lucky his brother is there to keep him in check. If it weren't for Vhilem, Triton would have easily gone down a very dark path. Triton is a beast of burden, able to handle anything thrown at him. While vhilem drives everything forward. 

1156 AOEE. Both are now 25. Vhilem takes time for his appearance. He has long brown hair and trims his beard daily. He’s a little over 6 feet tall with an athletic build. An overall handsome young man. Triton cuts his brown hair short and can’t grow a beard. His musculature is extremely defined with years working in the mines pushing his body every day. He is very off-putting. Triton is more machine than man, metaphorically speaking, and has a very cold aura about him. The two brothers share some common physical appearances, but one thing stands out, their eyes. Both of their irises are naturally void black. most thought they had a pair of cyber eyes that can change color. So, no one bats an eye to their unique appearance. Except for the kids and guardians of the orphanage. It took the children a while to get accustomed to it, and the guardians just assumed it was a nascent mutation.

Vhilem still held on to his ambition of wanting to become something great and settles on something small, making an empire. He doesn't know how to do such a thing, but he knows he's going to need a lot of money. But their small, comfortable home on Granth offers no opportunity to excel and achieve this ambition. Using the money Triton made working the mines for years. They both say their goodbyes to their caregivers and fellow orphaned brothers and sisters and head to a cargo vessel leaving Granth. They both board the cargo vessel promising to work as manual labour for the freighter. They board, and the ship heads off into the heavens. Vhilem watches as his home planet becomes smaller and smaller. While Triton immediately gets to work.

On the vessel Vhilem does what he does best and makes some friends. While talking it up, Vhilem asks around if anyone knew how to make the kind of wealth Vhilem seeks. Most of the crew agreed on one job. Very dangerous, very profitable, become a mercenary. They tell vhilem of legendary mercs fighting battle after battle and earning enough cash to buy a planet and or just be gifted one. The crew laughs, not thinking Vhilem would take this path in life for such a childish goal, but Vhilem asks how to become a mercenary. The crew look at each other, both fascinated by this country bumpkin’s naivety and at how he’s being honest. One of the crew explains that on their current route they will eventually head into Planet Vrak, which is a small mercenary hub and can possibly grant them a means of becoming mercenaries. Vhilem thanks the nice crew members and tells his brother the next part of the plan. Triton nods and gets back to work.

A few months pass. Planet after planet, cargo run after cargo run, they finally reach Vrak. Vhilem thanks the captain of the ship, but before the two brothers can head out, the captain stops them. “Eh, you two are nice people. Anyway I can persuade you two to work on my ship?” The captain speaks in a gravely tone of voice, a voice that screams years of experience. As always, Vhilem speaks for the two brothers. “Oh, uh, thanks for the offer, but we have plans for the future.” The captain shakes his head. “No, you don’t.” He sits down and lights up a cig. He takes a puff and continues his speech. “I used to be a merc, you know. I was just like the two of you, wanting to get somewhere fast.” He takes a deep inhale of the cigarette and shows off his chest. His chest is mostly machine and dying skin. “See this. Lost all of this fighting for corporate on a slave commune. I’m no fan of the slave communes, but corporate pays really well, well most of the time. It was a small slave rebellion, but one guy somehow snuck a plasma gun into the mix and shot me in the chest.” He takes one more puff of his cig and puts it out. He then takes out his phone and shows the two brothers his finances, deep in debt. “I’m a debt slave for the rest of my life. I wanted to get somewhere fast, and I got nowhere even faster.” The two brothers look at each other. Triton is unfazed, but it’s obvious that Vhilem is a bit shaken. “I’m not gonna stop ya if you want to keep going down this path, just to warn ya is all.” Vhilem takes a deep breath and gives his answer. “Thanks for warning us, but…but I am still determined on becoming a merc.” The captain nods and gets up, looking for something. “Where is it…where is it…there it is.” He takes out a plasma pistol and hands it to Vhilem. Vhilem hands it to Triton. “Same one that fucked me. If it wasn’t for the cocktail of drugs they pumped into me, I would have died. I tell ya, some drugs you get out there are out of this fucking universe.” He sits down and takes out another cig. Vhilem gives the captain a warm smile. “Thanks for the gift. Um, Mr…actually, funny thing. No one’s every said your name.” The captain chuckles. “I’m nobody, kid. I’m just the captain. I’ll always be a captain until I die. One bit of advice.” He takes a puff and blows smoke into the face of Vhilem. “Never take corporate contracts. High pay and an even higher chance of getting fucked.” Vhilem nods and gets up. Triton gets up as well, and they both head out into Vrak to begin their adventure.