[@Lauder] Good catch, yeah I was planning on everyone not having met yet. However I can accommodate these backstories as long as- 
[list]
[*]You've never pulled a real job together.
[*]You don't have a ship yet (because that is the first real plot point)
[*]You're taking this first job for the ship and the money, rather than any loyalty to each other. Character development and friendships occur during downtime (or banter mid-job) rather than before we begin. 
[/list] 

But DK/Lauder can know and work together through necessity before you decide to form a crew, and Penny's character can show up.