Fraternity was an inhospitable planet with frequent chemical storms that were fatal to humans. Nevertheless, the planet had a huge variety of basic life forms, such as plant life, bacteria and slime mould.

In the 22nd century, several Earth research teams visited Fraternity, establishing sixty-four stations on the planet, with each staffed by three researchers. Professor Sarah Emmins led a team at the fifty-seventh research station that included her husband Stuart Gorey and her research assistant Ian Bird. (PROSE: The 57th)