The companion Autum MacMillan can be recruited after completing the Free Star Rangers faction quest line, in the bar area on Red Mile.
Autum MacMillan
Skills
Pistol Certification
Considering the popularity of the personal sidearm in the Settled Systems, familiarity with such weapons is often considered essential.
Sharpshooting
For those who specialize in precise targeting that maximizes damage, combat is often a quickly efficient affair.
Botany
The scientific study of flora, while important on Earth, became even more essential as humanity began exploring alien worlds.