| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Field Researcher at age 18 |
| 1 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | Refuse to join a cheat in some fashion. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 3 | Voluntarily left Field Researcher |
| 3 | Became a Wanderer at age 26 |
| 3 | Suffer from a life-threatening illness. |
| 4 | Became a Courier at age 30 |
| 4 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 5 | Continued as Courier at age 34 |
| 5 | You survey an alien world. |
| 6 | Continued as Courier at age 38 |
| 6 | Scarred. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 7 | Switched to Scientist at age 42 |
| 7 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 8 | Continued as Scientist at age 46 |
| 8 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 9 | Continued as Scientist at age 50 |
| 9 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Continued as Scientist at age 54 |
| 10 | A romantic relationship deepens, possibly leading to marriage. Gain an Ally. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Continued as Scientist at age 58 |
| 11 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Continued as Scientist at age 62 |
| 12 | Refuse to join a cheat in some fashion. |
| 12 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |