| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Merchant Marine at age 18 |
| 1 | Is now a Crewman |
| 2 | Continued as Merchant Marine at age 22 |
| 2 | Given advanced training in a specialist field |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Is now a Senior Crewman |
| 3 | Continued as Merchant Marine at age 26 |
| 3 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 4 | Continued as Merchant Marine at age 30 |
| 4 | Forced to muster out. |
| 5 | Became a Surveyor at age 34 |
| 5 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 5 | Gain 5 Contacts. Gain 1 Enemies. |
| 6 | Became a Corporate Agent at age 38 |
| 6 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 6 | Is now a Agent |
| 7 | Continued as Corporate Agent at age 42 |
| 7 | A romantic relationship ends badly. Gain a Rival or Enemy. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 7 | Is now a Field Agent |
| 8 | Voluntarily left Corporate Agent |
| 8 | Switched to Free Trader at age 46 |
| 8 | Your ship or starport is destroyed by criminals. Gain them as an Enemy. |
| 9 | Became a Line/Crew at age 50 |
| 9 | Is now a Crewman |
| 9 | Vessel participates in a notable military engagement. |
| 9 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 9 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 10 | Voluntarily left Line/Crew |
| 10 | Became a Field Researcher at age 54 |
| 10 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 58 |
| 11 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |