| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Scientist at age 18 |
| 1 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Scientist at age 22 |
| 2 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 3 | Continued as Scientist at age 26 |
| 3 | A new romantic starts. Gain an Ally. |
| 4 | Voluntarily left Scientist |
| 4 | Became a Surveyor at age 30 |
| 4 | Perform an exemplary service for the scouts. |
| 5 | Continued as Surveyor at age 34 |
| 5 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 5 | Is now a Scout |
| 6 | Continued as Surveyor at age 38 |
| 6 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 6 | Gain 3 Contacts. Gain 2 Enemies. |
| 7 | Switched to Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 8 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 8 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 9 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 50 |
| 9 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 10 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 54 |
| 10 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 11 | Became a Flight at age 58 |
| 11 | Is now a Crewman |
| 11 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 12 | Became a Corporate at age 62 |
| 12 | You befriend a superior in the corporation or the colony. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |