| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Line/Crew at age 18 |
| 1 | Is now a Crewman |
| 1 | Vessel participates in a notable military engagement. |
| 1 | Attempt at commissioned failed. |
| 2 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 22 |
| 2 | Advanced training in a specialist field |
| 2 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 2 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 3 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 26 |
| 3 | You foil an attempted crime on board, such as mutiny, sabotage, smuggling or conspiracy. Gain an Enemy. |
| 3 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 2 |
| 3 | Is now a Petty Officer, 3rd class |
| 4 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 30 |
| 4 | You are tormented by or quarrel with an officer or fellow crewman. Gain that character as a Rival. |
| 5 | Became a Field Researcher at age 34 |
| 5 | 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. |
| 5 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 5 | Gain an Enemy |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 6 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 8 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 9 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 50 |
| 9 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 9 | Forced to muster out. |
| 10 | Became a Barbarian at age 54 |
| 10 | Suffer from a life-threatening illness. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Retired at age 58 |
| 11 | Gained a contact. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Find Ancient Technology. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |