| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Scientist at age 18 |
| 1 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Scientist at age 22 |
| 2 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 3 | Continued as Scientist at age 26 |
| 3 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Scientist at age 30 |
| 4 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 5 | Continued as Scientist at age 34 |
| 5 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 6 | Continued as Scientist at age 38 |
| 6 | Moved to a new world. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 7 | Voluntarily left Scientist |
| 7 | Became a Surveyor at age 42 |
| 7 | When dealing with an alien race, you botch an opportunity to gather extra intelligence about them. |
| 7 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 8 | Voluntarily left Surveyor |
| 8 | Switched to Explorer at age 46 |
| 8 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 9 | Continued as Explorer at age 50 |
| 9 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 9 | Nearly killed. Owe 17,500 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 10 | Continued as Explorer at age 54 |
| 10 | Injured. Fully recovered. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 30,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Retired at age 58 |
| 11 | Gained a contact. |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |
| 12 | Gained a contact. |
| 13 | Aging Crisis. Owe 50,000 for medical bills. |