| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Colonist at age 18 |
| 1 | Political upheaval strikes your homeworld, and you are caught up in the revolution. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Colonist at age 22 |
| 2 | Your business expands, your corporation grows, or the colony thrives. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 2 | Is now a Settler |
| 3 | Continued as Colonist at age 26 |
| 3 | Your business expands, your corporation grows, or the colony thrives. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 4 | Voluntarily left Colonist |
| 4 | Became a Flight at age 30 |
| 4 | Is now a Crewman |
| 4 | Nearly killed. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 5 | Became a Surveyor at age 34 |
| 5 | You discover a world, item or information of worth to the Imperium. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 5 | Is now a Scout |
| 6 | Voluntarily left Surveyor |
| 6 | Became a Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | 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. |
| 6 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 6 | Gain an Enemy |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 8 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | Your work is sabotaged by unknown parties. You may salvage what you can and give up. |
| 9 | Switched to Line/Crew at age 50 |
| 9 | You foil an attempted crime on board, such as mutiny, sabotage, smuggling or conspiracy. Gain an Enemy. |
| 9 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 9 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 10 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 54 |
| 10 | You are tormented by or quarrel with an officer or fellow crewman. Gain that character as a Rival. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Retired at age 58 |
| 11 | Moved to a new world. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | A romantic relationship ends badly. Gain a Rival or Enemy. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | Gained a contact. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 14 | A romantic relationship deepens, possibly leading to marriage. Gain an Ally. |
| 15 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |