| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Courier at age 18 |
| 1 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 1 | Gain 3 Contacts. Gain 2 Enemies. |
| 2 | Switched to Surveyor at age 22 |
| 2 | You spend a great deal of time on the fringes of Charted Space. |
| 2 | Gain a contact in an alien race. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Is now a Scout |
| 3 | Continued as Surveyor at age 26 |
| 3 | Your scout ship is one of the first on the scene to rescue the survivors of a disaster but you fail to help. Gain an Enemy. |
| 3 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. Owe 5,000 for medical bills. |
| 4 | Continued as Surveyor at age 30 |
| 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. |
| 4 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 5 | Continued as Surveyor at age 34 |
| 5 | You discover a world, item or information of worth to the Imperium. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 5 | Is now a Senior Scout |
| 6 | Continued as Surveyor at age 38 |
| 6 | Your scout ship is one of the first on the scene to rescue the survivors of a disaster but you fail to help. Gain an Enemy. |
| 6 | You inadvertently cause a conflict between the Imperium and a minor world or race. Gain a Rival. |
| 7 | Continued as Surveyor at age 42 |
| 7 | You survey an alien world. |
| 7 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 8 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 8 | Continued as Surveyor at age 46 |
| 8 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 8 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 9 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |
| 9 | Continued as Surveyor at age 50 |
| 9 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 9 | Promoted to rank 6 |
| 10 | Continued as Surveyor at age 54 |
| 10 | Birth or Death involving a family member or close friend. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 7 |
| 10 | Forced to muster out. |
| 11 | Aging Crisis. Owe 20,000 for medical bills. |