So, i've started playing this brilliant not so long ago, and become really wondered about the subject. Does Officers were immortal since the game was released, or there was some time, when they actually can be dead? Also, if i understood well, back in a day the Officer progression system was another? They (and marines?) used to have some sort of ranks? If it's what it was, then i think it was some sort of a nice thing. Imagine, like, having 1-2 veterans that you try to keep an eye on and not let them Burn Drive straight to Valhalla. Because, idk, in my current playthrough, when i'm trying to engage a battle fortress, i usually deploy about 8-10 ships with officers. And, due to battle fortress being, you know, battle fortress, sometimes it's quite difficult to manage to destroy it without having casualties. And then, imagine when you are on a big conquer mission, and you have to battle this things a lot. And you have a guy that literally survived full ship destruction like 10 times. I guess he will find what to say to his grandchildren.