Here's my gripe with the success: we're all supposed to be about the same level at this point. Even the ex-soldiers, like Kat, who's 45, hasn't had the drastic level of success your character has. Honestly, what your character has done (especially with the textbooks, which there aren't really, mechs haven't been in service long enough), he'd be more qualified than Erikal to be the head of the Institute. I don't want you to remake your character, that would just be mean... But I want you to be roughly on the level of the other rookies. In the game is the time to show your heroism and skill, not so much in your bio where I can't throw trials at you.

The absorption thing works though.

Jericho is approved, provided dax has no issues with it. Again, though, my assumption is he's close to the skill level of the others since there's not explicit detail to the contrary.