Zola Smith
From Station
Zola Smith
Position: Chief Mate, FMS Mayfair
History
The third oldest child of Anthony and Elisabetta Ditondo (her brother Roman was the oldest), Zola had an idyllic childhood growing up in the North American mountain village of Ouray, Colorado. At age seventeen, she enrolled into the Colorado School of Mining (CSM), and graduated with a degree in engineering physics. During her senior year, she met a young man by the name of John Smith who changed her life forever. Upon graduating CSM, she applied for and was accepted into the Turnbull Merchant Marine Academy in Aberdeen Scotland (though a private institute, the Turnbull Academy provides officer training for numerous merchant fleets). Upon graduation from the Turnbull Academy, John and Zola were married, and were both assigned positions on the SS Barra.
The young married couple slowly made their way up the ranks, and would have probably seen their own command in about ten or twelve years, were it not for the Federation's expanded exploration efforts into the Gavarian Frontier. The Federation contracted Turnbull to provide three freighters to run the Gavarian Corridor to provide supplies as well as ferry personnel to the Starfleet presence in the Frontier. Turnbull provided three Rubin-class freighters, the most modern in their fleet, to make the run. Starfleet modified the three freighters, providing them stronger shielding and light armament to resist potential raiders while making the run in the corridor. Given the potenial danger and limited profit margin the run represented, more senior officers and crew members took a pass on the run, leaving opportunities for more junior members of the Turnbull company. Thus, Zola found herself Chief Mate of the FMS Mayfair, with her husband its commanding officer.
The Mayfair is presently making her maiden run to Kepler Station, carrying supplies as well as personnel, such as Stephen Huddle and Lieutenant Kathanara Hough.