| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Courier at age 18 |
| 1 | You survey an alien world. |
| 2 | Continued as Courier at age 22 |
| 2 | You survey an alien world. |
| 3 | Continued as Courier at age 26 |
| 3 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 3 | Gain a contact in an alien race. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 3 | Is now a Scout |
| 4 | Continued as Courier at age 30 |
| 4 | Serve as the courier for an important message from the Imperium. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 5 | Continued as Courier at age 34 |
| 5 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 6 | Became a Wanderer at age 38 |
| 6 | Find an Alien Artifact. |
| 7 | Continued as Wanderer at age 42 |
| 7 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 8 | Became a Performer at age 46 |
| 8 | Go on a tour of the sector, visiting several worlds. Gain 3 Contacts. |
| 9 | Voluntarily left Performer |
| 9 | Became a Field Researcher at age 50 |
| 9 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 10 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 54 |
| 10 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 11 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 58 |
| 11 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 12 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 62 |
| 12 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 12 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 13 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 66 |
| 13 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 13 | Promoted to rank 4 |