| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Wanderer at age 18 |
| 1 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 2 | Became a Scientist at age 22 |
| 2 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 3 | Continued as Scientist at age 26 |
| 3 | A romantic relationship ends badly. Gain a Rival or Enemy. |
| 4 | Continued as Scientist at age 30 |
| 4 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 5 | Continued as Scientist at age 34 |
| 5 | Work leads to a considerable breakthrough. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 6 | Continued as Scientist at age 38 |
| 6 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 7 | Continued as Scientist at age 42 |
| 7 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 8 | Continued as Scientist at age 46 |
| 8 | 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. |
| 8 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 8 | Gain an Enemy |
| 8 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 9 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 9 | Continued as Scientist at age 50 |
| 9 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 6 |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Continued as Scientist at age 54 |
| 10 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 7 |
| 10 | Forced to muster out. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Retired at age 58 |
| 11 | Gained a contact. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |