"I was a miner and journeyman metalsmith on the planet Komen IV, one of the largest exporters of metal, stone, and related goods in any system close to Earth." Galdes sits in a reclining position* "A week and a half ago word got out that the boss was blowing our maintenance funds on frivolous stuff, it got so bad instead of using mining lasers, we had to make pickaxes with the inferior metal we mined up. The boss eventually got arrested when his cost cutting measures caused a cave in, killing three of us! When he got arrested, the rest of the living miners knew we would be out of work, so we mined up a silvery-purple metal." Galdes pulls out an ingot of said metal from his bag to show everyone* "When we were cut loose, every miner took something from the camp at entrance. I took the anvil and forge plans, got aboard the freighter that was left behind and took off, and then I found the Exalin. The Professor was kind enough to let me on board."