| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Field Researcher at age 18 |
| 1 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 30 |
| 4 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 5 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 34 |
| 5 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 5 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 2,500 for medical bills. |
| 5 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working openly and gain an Enemy. |
| 6 | Continued as 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 |
| 6 | Forced to muster out. |
| 7 | Became a Free Trader at age 42 |
| 7 | Gained a contact. |
| 8 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 8 | Continued as Free Trader at age 46 |
| 8 | Given advanced training in a specialist field |
| 9 | Continued as Free Trader at age 50 |
| 9 | Your ship or starport is destroyed by criminals. Gain them as an Enemy. |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Retired at age 54 |
| 10 | Gained a contact. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |