| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Became a Free Trader at age 18 |
| 1 | A series of bad deals and decisions force you into bankruptcy. You salvage what you can. |
| 2 | Became a Scientist at age 22 |
| 2 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 3 | Continued as Scientist at age 26 |
| 3 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 4 | Continued as Scientist at age 30 |
| 4 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 5 | Continued as Scientist at age 34 |
| 5 | Gained a contact. |
| 6 | Continued as Scientist at age 38 |
| 6 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 7 | Continued as Scientist at age 42 |
| 7 | 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. |
| 7 | Nearly killed. Owe 8,750 for medical bills. |
| 7 | Gain an Enemy |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 8 | Voluntarily left Scientist |
| 8 | Switched to Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | Nearly killed. Owe 11,250 for medical bills. |
| 9 | Became a Explorer at age 50 |
| 9 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 9 | Is now a Scout |
| 10 | Continued as Explorer at age 54 |
| 10 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 10 | Gain 6 Contacts. Gain 2 Enemies. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |