| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Explorer at age 18 |
| 1 | You have no idea what happened to you – they found your ship drifting on the fringes of friendly space. |
| 2 | Became a Line/Crew at age 22 |
| 2 | Is now a Crewman |
| 2 | Vessel participates in a notable military engagement. |
| 2 | Attempt at commissioned failed. |
| 3 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 26 |
| 3 | Advanced training in a specialist field |
| 3 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 3 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 4 | Voluntarily left Line/Crew |
| 4 | Became a Barbarian at age 30 |
| 4 | Scarred. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 5 | Returned to Line/Crew at age 34 |
| 5 | Placed in the frozen watch (cryogenically stored on board ship) and revived improperly. |
| 6 | Became a Corporate at age 38 |
| 6 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 7 | Continued as Corporate at age 42 |
| 7 | Political upheaval strikes your homeworld, and you are caught up in the revolution. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 8 | Continued as Corporate at age 46 |
| 8 | Hard times caused by a lack of interstellar trade costs you your job. |
| 9 | Switched to Wanderer at age 50 |
| 9 | Betrayed by a friend. One of your Contacts or Allies betrays you, ending your career. That Contact or Ally becomes a Rival or Enemy. |
| 10 | Switched to Engineer/Gunner at age 54 |
| 10 | Special assignment or duty on board ship. |
| 10 | Promoted to Engineer/Gunner rank 2 |
| 10 | Is now a Petty Officer, 3rd class |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 10,000 for medical bills. |