| 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 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 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 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 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 | Cheated in some fashion, advancing your career and research by stealing another’s work, using an alien device, taking a shortcut and so forth. |
| 7 | Gain an Enemy |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 6 |
| 8 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 9 | Became a Line/Crew at age 50 |
| 9 | Is now a Crewman |
| 9 | Commanding officer takes an interest in your career. |
| 9 | Attempt at commissioned failed. |
| 9 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 9 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 10 | Voluntarily left Line/Crew |
| 10 | Became a Enforcer at age 54 |
| 10 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 11 | Became a Performer at age 58 |
| 11 | Works is especially well received and popular, making you a minor celebrity |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Continued as Performer at age 62 |
| 12 | Refused to criticise a questionable political leader on your homeworld. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | Continued as Performer at age 66 |
| 13 | Works is especially well received and popular, making you a minor celebrity |
| 13 | Forced to muster out. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 14 | Retired at age 70 |
| 14 | A romantic relationship ends badly. Gain a Rival or Enemy. |
| 15 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 15 | A romantic relationship deepens, possibly leading to marriage. Gain an Ally. |
| 16 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |