Fraser was born in Chicago to Scottish immigrants. His upbringing was fairly normal, and after High School attended Northwestern University achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He had a hard time finding a decent job though and with student debt looming, he enlisted in the Army in an attempt to pay it off rather than saddle his folks with it.  After his first enlistment, he was selected to enter OCS and reentered the military as an officer, making it his career. He's served in multiple places world wide over the last 20 years and is still considered 'active duty' with the rank of Major although he's on terminal leave (using up his saved vacation time before his final separation date on 31 August).  He's due to retire though and has come to Hathian to visit friends and see about possible places to spend the next chapter of his life. He's already let his hair and his beard grow out, figuring that no one was going to care anymore, especially since, come Sept 1st he was going to join the civilian world officially.  For now he's checking out the city and seeing where he might fit in.