Maria Candela

Maria Candela (b. 2014 Bogota, Colombia) is a nurse anesthetist who serves in emergency ward A-12 on board Thaumas I. She was voted in as vice mayor of the station, a position that grants her a seat on the Command Council. Candela is classified as being highly radiation tolerant (level 3), and was recruited from her position at Panama City General Hospital into the Thaumas Program when she was identified in early 2044 to possess certain genetic markers indicative of a high potential for radiation tolerance. She has lived on board Thaumas I since February, 2044, making her among the earlier residents of the station.

Maria Candela has gained notoriety for being left-leaning in her politics, most notably for Candela Initiative 17. Many even go as far as to call her a socialist, a label she has never publicly confirmed or denied. She is one of the founders of the Human Freedom Front, an organization that started on Thaumas I in March of 2045, as news of chaos from around the globe began trickling, then flooding into the media. As a founder, she has no specific authority and, in fact, the Human Freedom Front has no leaders. Meetings are scheduled at regular intervals, and anyone present can initiate discussion or call for a vote at any time. The Human Freedom Front has spread to the other Thaumas stations, having a chapter on each facility.

In addition to her roles as a nurse and as the vice mayor of Thaumas I, Candela is active in the Thaumas Craft Guild, a group dedicated to sharing craft skills. In recent months, the TCG has also served as a labor group, making it easier for people in need to find workers who may not have electronic records or departmental affiliation that provide information on all their skills.

She also teaches Cumbia dancing on Friday nights.