| Term | History |
|---|
| 1 | Entered Naval Academy at age 18 |
| 1 | Made lifelong friends. Gain 1 Allies. |
| 1 | Dropped out of military academy. |
| 2 | Became a Surveyor at age 18 |
| 2 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 3 | Continued as Surveyor at age 22 |
| 3 | When dealing with an alien race, you botch an opportunity to gather extra intelligence about them. |
| 3 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 3 | Gain 2 Contacts. Gain 2 Enemies. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 3 | Is now a Scout |
| 4 | Continued as Surveyor at age 26 |
| 4 | When dealing with an alien race, you botch an opportunity to gather extra intelligence about them. |
| 4 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 5 | Voluntarily left Surveyor |
| 5 | Became a Scientist at age 30 |
| 5 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 6 | Continued as Scientist at age 34 |
| 6 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 7 | Continued as Scientist at age 38 |
| 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 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 7 | Severely injured. Fully recovered. Owe 15,000 for medical bills. |
| 7 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working openly and gain an Enemy. |
| 7 | Gain an Enemy |
| 8 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 8 | Continued as Scientist at age 42 |
| 8 | Refused to perform research that goes against your conscience. |
| 8 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 9 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |