| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Explorer at age 18 |
| 1 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 1 | Is now a Scout |
| 2 | Continued as Explorer at age 22 |
| 2 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 3 | Became a Marine Support at age 26 |
| 3 | Is now a Marine |
| 3 | Commanding officer takes an interest in your career. |
| 3 | Promoted to Marine Support rank 1 |
| 3 | Is now a Lance Corporal |
| 4 | Voluntarily left Marine Support |
| 4 | Became a Barbarian at age 30 |
| 4 | Find an Alien Artifact. |
| 5 | Continued as Barbarian at age 34 |
| 5 | Forced to muster out. |
| 6 | Switched to Wanderer at age 38 |
| 6 | Victim of a crime |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 7 | Continued as Wanderer at age 42 |
| 7 | Find valuable salvage. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 8 | Voluntarily left Wanderer |
| 8 | Became a Field Researcher at age 46 |
| 8 | Spend time with an alien race. Gain a contact. |
| 9 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 50 |
| 9 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 10 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 54 |
| 10 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 58 |
| 11 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 11 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 62 |
| 12 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 12 | Forced to muster out. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 13 | Retired at age 66 |
| 13 | Accused of a crime |
| 14 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |
| 14 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 15 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |
| 15 | Gained a contact. |
| 16 | Aging Crisis. Owe 60,000 for medical bills. |