Nathaniel was born, and grew up on Gaargir, the son of an administrator at the naval base, and an engineer scout. Through basic schooling, Nat was fairly average in most things. A bit brighter then most, but not that strong. He did participate in the group physical outings, when and where permitted by the Navy. The usable locations changed, or were shut down with little official notice. It was not talked about much, but everyone in his (small) peer group knew it was because of various 'operations' the Navy was conducting. Sometimes he was the first to know, because his mom would be more tired, and working longer hours just before the official notices were posted. He liked the stories dad told (when he was around) about the peoples he had seen on distance worlds, or passed from others from even further away.

At 18, he easily passed the university entrance qualifications. That was done mostly as remote computer learning, but the Navy did provide some (limited) access to workshop facilities and tutors at the base for the needed hands on lab work. So he did get to expand the group of people he interacted with. Following some of his fathers background, he studied basic engineering, with a focus on the manoeuvre drive. He spent more time though on learning how legal systems worked across wide ranges of space and governments. While her area was in administration, his mother had talked about problems related to differences in laws and legal systems. That had seemed a challenge to him, and he dived into the learning with enthusiasm.  Some of the laws that varied by system include gambling. He also encounter a group that met regular in one of the labs adjacent to the one he used for engineering. For poker night, and telling outrageous stories. From that, he started learning about gambling as a hobby.

He graduated from university, though not with as good of marks as the entrance qualification would have implied. University had tweaked his interest in learning, and moved into scholar, and the marks were good enough to help qualify for a Scholar career.  Lavnia was only a couple of weeks (plus layover time) away at jump 2. One of the feudal lords there had need of advocate skills, and an aptitude for science.

Everyone starting this career learned much the same skills. There were differences. He learned to drive hovercraft, where others worked with wheeled or tracked vehicles. He learned remote operations, while others did sensors or computers. This also when he was first exposed to Psionicology. That was something outside his experience, and he learned more than others about it. He decide on a scientist assignment.

Jumping into that, he learned to write reports that were both accurate and interesting to others. He considered a career as a journalist, or writer, but science was still a stronger draw. The person he was working for was eccentric, but brilliant. The reports on his research into intelligent beings was required reading for those in the field. He learned a lot while asking questions, and turning the research notes into something more consumable by a wider audience, although he did not advance to the next rank as a Scholar.

With a recommendation from his mentor, he got passage and work support an expedition on Ildrissar, where some Iltharan ruins where discovered. It was nearly 2 months travel time, which he spent improving his education. It was interesting work, that he did well, despite the higher gravity, pressure, and nuisance of filter masks anytime you need to go outside. Extending from what he had learned about Sphontology, and what he was learning about Archaeology and the Iltharan language produced results that were noted more widely. He was awarded the sector wide Humming prize for 'advancement of understanding of previous civilizations'. It definitely helped that his advocate training kept all of the arguments logical and related. It did not hurt that the reports were interesting to read, due to the writing skill picked up previously. It got his work in front of the eyes that choose the recipient.

The award got his name known in some of the right, and wrong, circles. Travelling to Drexilthar, he was asked to do work that left him quite uncomfortable, but his curiosity, and thirst for knowledge won out. They were looking for ways to selectively block different psionic abilities.  His advocate training stood him in good stead here, dealing with the omnipresent bureaucracy and convoluted laws. Even that would not have been enough, if his patron had not been easing the way. As it was, he made some enemies. One a fellow scientist that figured (possibly rightly) that he was taking the work too far. The other was almost accidental, when he 'proved' that with the existing laws, that a specific seizure of  equipment he needed was illegal. The responsible administrator lost face and position, and was forced to deal with her own lengthy legal process. It was never stated, but reading between the lines, he figured that someones' goal was to block things like telepathy and clairvoyance, while allowing telekinesis to work. With the aim of creating a 'safe' (controllable) telekinetic work force. The results were mixed, and inconsistent, usually with serious side-effects. The path they were trying was not going to work.  Still, he learned more about Sphontology and Psionicology. Promoted to rank 2, he also learn to work with computers effectively.

Shaking the legal tangles and other issues from his heals, he moved to Cassandra, where a corporation was doing some research with robotics and remote operations for mining the asteroids. He updated is skill with remote operation electronics, and got some advanced training for robotics, which he further improved on with the research. If they can work out the remaining glitches, and get the manufacturing costs and complexity down a bit, there might be a new line of semi automated mining robots on the market soon. That is all just engineering.

He gets an offer, and moves to Duncinae. It will be nice to be able to take a walk without needing to take special protective measures. He has not been able to really enjoy an afternoon stroll or outdoor swim since leaving home after university. A lot more people, but he has become used to, even comfortable with, the crowding. He picks up a bit more general Medic training, learns the Iltharan language better. Combining that with his previous skills and work produces enough of a breakthrough in the understanding of Iltharan society that he was promoted without the usual performance review interview process. Still, he is finding himself more tired lately. It is time to consider something new.

I suggest we give it a name that has no reference to TAMI or Iltharan.... maybe... Jinx-1, or perhaps Jynx-3.0 and let them think that it's an experimental language the Sylvester was trying to develop.

...     So, Nate, your 5th Term -- spent in Cassandra System -- would coincide with Vonon's 4th Term in the CSP, where we could have met.  Vonon did have an Event that Nate might have seen in local news -- and where we could have encountered one another...

While doing research at Cassandra, more specifically Cassandra's Belt, Nathaniel had the opportunity to take some advanced training on robot construction and use. That involved interaction with the local patrol. CSP Watchdog and her crew were some of the resources used. Nat assumed they were getting early looks at the research, which made them more cooperative about running demonstrations, and answering questions about real life requirements and limitations, as well as help field test some of the research experiments. The liason was an AS&D officer name Vonon. The questions and comparing of notes continued 'after hours', and over the course of the term (and drinks, and dinners), Nat also learned about the Ronkunu family, bits about criminal investigation, administration and legal aspects of the local bureaucracy, and that Vonon wanted to see an ocean sometime. As well as robotics. In turn, he share bits about the previous research he had been involved in, where and who had worked with. The quirky mentor and feudal lord on Lavnia, the Iltharan dig on Ildrissar, the bureaucracy and legal hassles of Drexilthar.

One thing Nat and Vonon never happened to talk about was exactly where he was from. Nat never considered it important. He talked about the projects worked on during various terms, and even that his university education was mostly 'distance learning', but never happened to mention Gaargir. There are lots of other 'interesting' things to discuss. Gaargir is just a place.

Every time -- Every-Frikkin-Time! -- someone asked me that, and I said "little town called Greenfield, Massachusetts..." I always get hit with "...Massachusetts?  Ya mean, like, Boston...?"