| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Star Marine at age 18 |
| 1 | Is now a Marine |
| 1 | A mission goes disastrously wrong due to your commander’s error or incompetence, but you survive. |
| 1 | Report commander and gain an Enemy. |
| 1 | Commissioned in Marine/Star Marine |
| 1 | Is now a Lieutenant |
| 1 | Promoted to Star Marine officer rank 2 |
| 1 | Is now a Captain |
| 2 | Voluntarily left Star Marine |
| 2 | Became a Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 3 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 3 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working openly and gain an Enemy. |
| 4 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 30 |
| 4 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 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 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 5 | Gain an Enemy |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 6 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 7 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working secretely. |
| 8 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | Birth or Death involving a family member or close friend. |
| 8 | Forced to muster out. |
| 9 | Became a Free Trader at age 50 |
| 9 | Imperial trade restrictions force you out of business. |