| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Journalist at age 18 |
| 1 | You are betrayed by a peer. One Ally or Contact becomes a Rival or Enemy |
| 2 | Became a Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 30 |
| 4 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 5 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 34 |
| 5 | Refused to perform research that goes against your conscience. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 6 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 6 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working secretely. |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 7 | Forced to muster out. |
| 8 | Became a Surveyor at age 46 |
| 8 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 8 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 8 | Gain 3 Contacts. Gain 1 Enemies. |
| 9 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |
| 9 | Continued as Surveyor at age 50 |
| 9 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Retired at age 54 |
| 10 | A new romantic starts. Gain an Ally. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | A romantic relationship deepens, possibly leading to marriage. Gain an Ally. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |