| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Line/Crew at age 18 |
| 1 | Is now a Crewman |
| 1 | Commanding officer takes an interest in your career. |
| 1 | Attempt at commissioned failed. |
| 1 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 1 |
| 1 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 2 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 22 |
| 2 | Refuse to abuse your position for profit |
| 2 | Promoted to Line/Crew rank 2 |
| 2 | Is now a Petty Officer, 3rd class |
| 3 | Continued as Line/Crew at age 26 |
| 3 | You are tormented by or quarrel with an officer or fellow crewman. Gain that character as a Rival. |
| 4 | Became a Scientist at age 30 |
| 4 | Work for an eccentric but brilliant mentor, who becomes an Ally. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 5 | Continued as Scientist at age 34 |
| 5 | 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. |
| 5 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 5 | Gain an Enemy |
| 6 | Continued as Scientist at age 38 |
| 6 | A rival researcher blackens your name or steals your research. Gain a Rival. |
| 7 | Continued as Scientist at age 42 |
| 7 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 8 | Continued as Scientist at age 46 |
| 8 | Victim of a crime |
| 8 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 9 | Continued as Scientist at age 50 |
| 9 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 10 | Continued as Scientist at age 54 |
| 10 | Refuse to join a cheat in some fashion. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 11 | Continued as Scientist at age 58 |
| 11 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 11 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 12 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |