| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Field Researcher at age 18 |
| 1 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 22 |
| 2 | Entangled in a bureaucratic or legal morass that distracts you from your work. |
| 2 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 3 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 26 |
| 3 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 4 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 30 |
| 4 | A disaster or war strikes. |
| 4 | Lightly injured, no permanent damage. Fully recovered. |
| 4 | The planetary government interferes with your research for political or religious reasons. You continue working secretely. |
| 5 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 34 |
| 5 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 6 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 38 |
| 6 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 5 |
| 7 | Continued as Field Researcher at age 42 |
| 7 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 7 | Forced to muster out. |
| 8 | Became a Wanderer at age 46 |
| 8 | You do not know what happened to you. There is a gap in your memory. |
| 9 | Became a Courier at age 50 |
| 9 | Perform an exemplary service for the scouts. |
| 10 | Continued as Courier at age 54 |
| 10 | Spend several years jumping from world to world in your scout ship. |
| 10 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 10 | Is now a Scout |
| 11 | Continued as Courier at age 58 |
| 11 | Your ship is damaged, and you have to hitch-hike your way back across the stars to the nearest scout base. |
| 11 | Gain 5 Contacts. Gain 2 Enemies. |