| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Physician at age 18 |
| 1 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Physician at age 22 |
| 2 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 3 | Continued as Physician at age 26 |
| 3 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 4 | Voluntarily left Physician |
| 4 | Became a Free Trader at age 30 |
| 4 | Bankrupted by a rival. Gain the other trader as a Rival. |
| 5 | Became a Wanderer at age 34 |
| 5 | Survived a risky adventure but gained nothing. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 6 | Continued as Wanderer at age 38 |
| 6 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 7 | Became a Explorer at age 42 |
| 7 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 7 | Psychologically damaged by your time in the scouts. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 7 | Is now a Scout |
| 8 | Continued as Explorer at age 46 |
| 8 | You inadvertently cause a conflict between the Imperium and a minor world or race. Gain a Rival. |
| 9 | Switched to Scientist at age 50 |
| 9 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 10 | Continued as Scientist at age 54 |
| 10 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 11 | Continued as Scientist at age 58 |
| 11 | 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. |
| 11 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 11 | Gain an Enemy |
| 12 | Continued as Scientist at age 62 |
| 12 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 12 | Promoted to rank 3 |