Fred Smith was an assistant engineer working under Robert Velura. His father was a "true frontiersman," according to Fred Smith's mother, but Fred himself did not remember his father at all. He had wanted to join Starfleet but his mother prevented him from doing so. He ran away from home and eventually ended up at the Allyrian Fleamarket, where he met Velura. Smith was unrecognized as a human due to his dress and appearance; Velura thought he was a Hootoo. (TNG video game: The Transinium Challenge)