| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Surveyor at age 18 |
| 1 | Your ship is ambushed by enemy vessels. You successfully ran to the jump point. |
| 2 | Continued as Surveyor at age 22 |
| 2 | You survey an alien world. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Is now a Scout |
| 3 | Continued as Surveyor at age 26 |
| 3 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Surveyor at age 30 |
| 4 | When dealing with an alien race, you botch an opportunity to gather extra intelligence about them. |
| 4 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 4 | Is now a Senior Scout |
| 5 | Continued as Surveyor at age 34 |
| 5 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 5 | Gain a contact in an alien race. |
| 5 | Forced to muster out. |
| 6 | Became a Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 6 | Forced to continue current assignment |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 8 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | 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. |
| 8 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 8 | Gain an Enemy |
| 9 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 50 |
| 9 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Retired at age 54 |
| 10 | A new romantic starts. Gain an Ally. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Victim of a crime |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Good fortune |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | A romantic relationship deepens, possibly leading to marriage. Gain an Ally. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |