| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Field Researcher at age 18 |
| 1 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 2 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 2 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working secretely. |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | Advanced training in a specialist 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 | 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. |
| 5 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 5 | Gain an Enemy |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 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 | Your work is sabotaged by unknown parties. You start again from scratch. |
| 6 | Gain an Enemy |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Your work is sabotaged by unknown parties. You start again from scratch. |
| 8 | Voluntarily left Field Researcher |
| 8 | Became a Scavenger at age 46 |
| 8 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 9 | Switched to Scientist at age 50 |
| 9 | Refuse to join a cheat in some fashion. |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Continued as Scientist at age 54 |
| 10 | Your work is sabotaged by unknown parties. You start again from scratch. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Continued as Scientist at age 58 |
| 11 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Continued as Scientist at age 62 |
| 12 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | Retired at age 66 |
| 13 | Gained a contact. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |