| Term | History |
| 1 | Became a Scientist at age 18 |
| 1 | Advanced training in a specialist field. |
| 1 | Promoted to rank 1 |
| 2 | Continued as Scientist at age 22 |
| 2 | Win a prestigious prize for your work. |
| 3 | Continued as Scientist at age 26 |
| 3 | Make a breakthrough in your field. |
| 3 | Promoted to rank 2 |
| 4 | Continued as Scientist at age 30 |
| 4 | An expedition or voyage goes wrong, leaving you stranded in the wilderness. |
| 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 |
| 5 | Promoted to rank 3 |
| 6 | Continued as Scientist at age 38 |
| 6 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 6 | Promoted to rank 4 |
| 7 | Continued as Scientist at age 42 |
| 7 | Assigned to work on a secret project for a patron or organisation. |
| 7 | Forced to muster out. |
| 8 | Became a Engineer/Gunner at age 46 |
| 8 | Is now a Crewman |
| 8 | Betrayal. Convert an Ally into a Rival or Enemy. |
| 8 | Attempt at commissioned failed. |
| 8 | Promoted to Engineer/Gunner rank 1 |
| 8 | Is now a Able Spacehand |
| 9 | Continued as Engineer/Gunner at age 50 |
| 9 | Lost eye or limb. Fully recovered. |
| 10 | Became a Artist at age 54 |
| 10 | Refused to criticise a questionable political leader on your homeworld. |
| 11 | Continued as Artist at age 58 |
| 11 | Join homeworld’s celebrity circles |
| 11 | Promoted to rank 1 |