| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Journalist at age 18 |
| 1 | Public opinion turns on you. |
| 2 | Became a Courier at age 22 |
| 2 | Birth or Death involving a family member or close friend. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Is now a Scout |
| 3 | Continued as Courier at age 26 |
| 3 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 4 | Continued as Courier at age 30 |
| 4 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 4 | Gain a contact in an alien race. |
| 5 | Continued as Courier at age 34 |
| 5 | You survey an alien world. |
| 6 | Continued as Courier at age 38 |
| 6 | You survey an alien world. |
| 7 | Voluntarily left Courier |
| 7 | Switched to Surveyor at age 42 |
| 7 | You inadvertently cause a conflict between the Imperium and a minor world or race. Gain a Rival. |
| 8 | Became a Barbarian at age 46 |
| 8 | You do not know what happened to you. There is a gap in your memory. |
| 9 | Switched to Wanderer at age 50 |
| 9 | run afoul of a criminal gang, corrupt bureaucrat or other foe. Gain an Enemy. |
| 10 | Continued as Wanderer at age 54 |
| 10 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Retired at age 58 |
| 11 | Moved to a new world. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |