| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Free Trader at age 18 |
| 1 | Befriend a useful ally in one sphere. Gain an Ally. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Free Trader at age 22 |
| 2 | Make an unexpected connection outside your normal circles. Gain a Contact. |
| 3 | Continued as Free Trader at age 26 |
| 3 | Befriend a useful ally in one sphere. Gain an Ally. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Free Trader at age 30 |
| 4 | Make an unexpected connection outside your normal circles. Gain a Contact. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 4 | Is now a Experienced Trader |
| 5 | Continued as Free Trader at age 34 |
| 5 | Make an unexpected connection outside your normal circles. Gain a Contact. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 6 | Continued as Free Trader at age 38 |
| 6 | Given advanced training in a specialist field |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 7 | Continued as Free Trader at age 42 |
| 7 | A good deal ensures you are living the high life for a few years. |
| 7 | Forced to muster out. |
| 8 | Became a Engineer/Gunner at age 46 |
| 8 | Is now a Crewman |
| 8 | You are tormented by or quarrel with an officer or fellow crewman. Gain that character as a Rival. |
| 9 | Became a Field Researcher at age 50 |
| 9 | Caught cheating in some fashion, advancing your career and research by stealing another’s work, using an alien device, taking a shortcut and so forth. |
| 9 | A disaster leaves several injured, and others blame you, forcing you to leave your career. Gain a Rival. |
| 9 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 9 | Gain an Enemy |
| 9 | Forced to continue current assignment |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 10 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 54 |
| 10 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 11 | Became a Wanderer at age 58 |
| 11 | Find valuable salvage. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |