| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Merchant Marine at age 18 |
| 1 | Is now a Crewman |
| 1 | Make an unexpected connection outside your normal circles. Gain a Contact. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 1 | Is now a Senior Crewman |
| 2 | Continued as Merchant Marine at age 22 |
| 3 | Voluntarily left Merchant Marine |
| 3 | Switched to Free Trader at age 26 |
| 3 | Befriend a useful ally in one sphere. Gain an Ally. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 4 | Continued as Free Trader at age 30 |
| 4 | Imperial trade restrictions force you out of business. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 5 | Voluntarily left Free Trader |
| 5 | Became a Performer at age 34 |
| 5 | Refused to criticise a questionable political leader on your homeworld. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 6 | Voluntarily left Performer |
| 6 | Became a Surveyor at age 38 |
| 6 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 7 | Became a Wanderer at age 42 |
| 7 | run afoul of a criminal gang, corrupt bureaucrat or other foe. Gain an Enemy. |
| 8 | Switched to Barbarian at age 46 |
| 8 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 9 | Returned to Free Trader at age 50 |
| 9 | Risk your fortune on a possibility lucrative deal and win. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 9 | Is now a Experienced Trader |
| 10 | Continued as Free Trader at age 54 |
| 10 | Your ship or starport is destroyed by criminals. Gain them as an Enemy. |
| 11 | Became a Worker at age 58 |
| 11 | A romantic relationship ends badly. Gain a Rival or Enemy. |
| 11 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 12 | Continued as Worker at age 62 |
| 12 | Your business expands, your corporation grows, or the colony thrives. |
| 12 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 12 | Is now a Technician |
| 13 | Continued as Worker at age 66 |
| 13 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 40,000 for medical bills. |
| 14 | Continued as Worker at age 70 |
| 14 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 14 | Forced to muster out. |
| 15 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 15 | Retired at age 74 |
| 15 | A new romantic starts. Gain an Ally. |
| 16 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |