| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Field Researcher at age 18 |
| 1 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 2 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | Good fortune |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | 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. |
| 3 | Your work is sabotaged by unknown parties. You may salvage what you can and give up. |
| 3 | Gain an Enemy |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 30 |
| 4 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 5 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 34 |
| 5 | Refuse to join a cheat in some fashion. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 6 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 6 |
| 7 | Forced to muster out. |
| 8 | Became a Courier at age 46 |
| 8 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 9 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 9 | Continued as Courier at age 50 |
| 9 | You discover a world, item or information of worth to the Imperium. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 9 | Is now a Scout |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Continued as Courier at age 54 |
| 10 | When dealing with an alien race, you have an opportunity to gather extra intelligence about them. Gain an Ally in the Imperium |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Continued as Courier at age 58 |
| 11 | Perform an exemplary service for the scouts. |
| 11 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Continued as Courier at age 62 |
| 12 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | Retired at age 66 |
| 13 | A romantic relationship deepens, possibly leading to marriage. Gain an Ally. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 14 | Gained a contact. |
| 15 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 15 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 16 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |