Short bio: After receiving my Arbitur at the end of my school years on Planet Stuttgart, I chose to end my academic studies. At the time, Kruger Minerals were running a campaign, advertising for school leavers to apprentice with them. As someone who has always enjoyed physical work and harboured that old childhood dream of visiting the stars, I signed on at 16.
Working at Kruger was challenging, but I like to think that I rose to meet those challenges. I started as a deckhand on the ore hauler Schwarzwald under Kapitan Otto Ziegler, where I learned the rudimentaries of life aboard a cargo ship; handling cargo, operating heavy machinery, basic ship maintenance and, most importantly, working within safe and efficient team with my crewmates.
I was part of the Schwarzwald's compliment for two years, until the day it was attacked and destroyed by a Hessian ambush in the Dresden system and was one of two survivors who made it to the escape pods. Unfortunately the pod itself had faulty shielding and by the time myself and crewman Speyer were rescued by a Kruger response team, we were suffering from acute radiation poisoning, Speyer succumbing in hospital three days later, and I was released from hospital some six months later.
With my physical condition on the mend but fragile, it was decided that my apprenticeship would shift focus temporarily to a less physically demanding role, and so I was assigned to the bridge of the Kruger mining ship Roter Gepard under Kapitan Karl Muller. Over the next year I worked my way around the various stations, beginning eagerly with the watch and sensors, then onto the helm, communications and defence. My aptitude was apparently such that I did not return to a role in the lower decks.
Upon the completion of my formal studies, Kapitan Muller requested that I be taken on as the replacement for Gepard's helmsman, who was retiring. In this capacity I served for five more years, familiarising myself with Rheinland's stellar geography and becoming comfortable with navigating large vessels through hazardous terrain.
Five years ago, I received a promotion to Chief Officer, still under Muller, and have been in that role ever since until I finally handed in my notice to Kruger last week. Though there are open positions available in the company for captains, I feel that it is time for a change. I am currently using my remaining paid leave raising the appropriate capital to fund a transport vessel of my own to fly under SEO's flag. Should this application be a success, I look forward to working with you all.
Finally, I would like to submit a small word from Kapitan Muller in support of my application:
I have had the good fortune to know Nautischer Offizier Weiss and to nurture his rising through the ranks for eleven years. He is a capable officer who brings to the table a duty of care for his ship and crew that is rare and not always fully reciprocated in an organisation like Kruger. I believe his experience with the destruction of the Schwarzwald has imparted on him a keen vigilance to the dangers of working in space and he does not tolerate undue risk in the profession.
Our loss is your gain. The crew of the Roter Gepard will pour one out for Kurt and to his future. He is still young and has many years of good service left in him. Give him the opportunity and the sky is the limit. Give Kapitan Dirk Hauer my thanks as well for his recommendation and advice.
//How much experience do you have in this game? (this will not affect your application) I mainly played this game between 4.84 and 4.85 on the Discovery UK server, with experience of leading two major factions. For a time I was also an admin before stopping playing in 2012-2013. I came back to the game briefly in 2017 and once again a week or two ago!
//Why do you want to join this faction? I've had really positive interactions with SEO players in my short time back which was the real deciding factor in applying. Outside of that, I'm hoping that I can find in SEO a low stress trading faction where I can have a bit of fun and brush up on my rusty RP skills.
//What's your Discord name? If you do not want to share, PM this account. Nick#4227
![[Image: SEO.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1014635295838318653/1059942241394757682/SEO.png)