| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Courier at age 18 |
| 1 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 2 | Continued as Courier at age 22 |
| 2 | Your scout ship is one of the first on the scene to rescue the survivors of a disaster but you fail to help. Gain an Enemy. |
| 2 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 3 | Continued as Courier at age 26 |
| 3 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 4 | Continued as Courier at age 30 |
| 4 | Good fortune |
| 4 | Forced to muster out. |
| 5 | Became a Free Trader at age 34 |
| 5 | Your business or ship thrives. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 6 | Continued as Free Trader at age 38 |
| 6 | Given advanced training in a specialist field |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 7 | Continued as Free Trader at age 42 |
| 7 | Bankrupted by a rival. Gain the other trader as a Rival. |
| 8 | Became a Scavenger at age 46 |
| 8 | Forced to muster out. |
| 9 | Became a Scientist at age 50 |
| 9 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 9 | Nearly killed. Fully recovered. |
| 9 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working openly and gain an Enemy. |
| 10 | Voluntarily left Scientist |
| 10 | Became a Line/Crew at age 54 |
| 10 | Is now a Crewman |
| 10 | Vessel participates in a notable military engagement. |
| 10 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 10 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 11 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 58 |
| 11 | Gained a contact. |
| 11 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 2 |
| 11 | Is now a Petty Officer, 3rd class |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 62 |
| 12 | You are tormented by or quarrel with an officer or fellow crewman. Gain that character as a Rival. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | Retired at age 66 |
| 13 | Gained a contact. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 14 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 15 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 15 | Victim of a crime |
| 16 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |