Lieutenant Ánderijá "Rija" Rautajärvi
Name Ánderijá "Rija" Isák Rautajärvi
Position Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
Rank Lieutenant
Character Information
| Gender | Male | |
| Species | Human | |
| Age | 29 |
Physical Appearance
| Height | 6'3" / 190cm | |
| Weight | 85kg / 187lbs | |
| Hair Color | Rust Brown | |
| Eye Color | Storm Grey | |
| Physical Description | Rija is lean but strong, with the wiry build of someone who was raised in a rugged climate where endurance mattered more than bulk. His posture is upright and composed--shaped by a lifetime of discipline and physical labour, but his movements are not hurried. He has a quiet grace that suggests attentiveness and restraint. His skin is pale and wind-burnished with very faint traces of frostbite scarring on his cheeks and knuckles (evidence of many winters spent outdoors). Rija's face is angular, with high cheekbones and a long straight nose (features common to the Sami people). He is very capable of growing a full beard but prefers to be clean-shaven on-duty. His rust-brown hair is thick and coarse like old iron left out in the snow for too many seasons. In this rust colour are hints of copper and auburn. His eyes are his most striking features: stormy grey-blue like the colour of glacial ice. In some light they might appear steel-grey or ethereal blue. These eyes are always reflective, unreadable and intensely observant. Another key characteristic of Rija is his voice: soft, low and deliberate. He chooses his words with care and it would be very unusual for him to raise his voice. He rarely smiles, but when he does it's like sunlight through ice--short, surprising and genuine. His four top front teeth are significant larger than the others (poor Rija had a severe overbite as a child). |
Family
| Father | Heikka Rautajärvi | |
| Mother | Jenni Rautajärvi (nee Kappfjell) | |
| Sister(s) | Birgit, age 42. (resides on Ruoktu VI) Katarina, age 39. (resides on Ruoktu VI) Ebba, age 37. (resides on Ruoktu VI) Sigrid, age 35. (resides on Ruoktu VI) Maja, age 33. (resides on Ruoktu VI) Julja, age 31. (resides on Ruoktu VI) Sussu, age 29 (Rija's twin sister, whom he shares a complex bond; resides on Ruoktu VI) |
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| Other Family | Mikkel (nephew), age 18. Currently considering career in Starfleet. |
Personality & Traits
| General Overview | Rija is a quiet observer with a deeply pragmatic worldview moulded by survival in a harsh climate. He speaks very little and is an adept listener. His natural inclination is toward introspection, analysis and quiet action. He respects tradition but is not bound by it--his decision to join Starfleet being a clear break from his father's rigid traditionalist worldview. He is passionately independent, respectful of structure but skeptical of authority--especially when it prioritizes dogma over truth. He excels in crisis situations--always the cool head, always focused and always calm. He is emotionally reserved and very slow to trust, though he can form deep bonds with those who earn his respect. Despite seeming distant, Rija is profoundly empathetic. He gets what it means to be caught between worlds--culturally, ideologically, and emotionally. His life's purpose (whether he realizes it yet) lies in helping others bridge those divides. Rija is frequently underestimated due to his calm demeanor but he has a commanding presence through silence. He is seen by others as a quiet guardian and his authority comes from gravitas, not volume. Others listen when he speaks. He is a firm believer in the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). |
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| Strengths & Weaknesses | Strengths: -calm under pressure -intellectually curious and deeply observant -culturally sensitive and diplomatic -highly adaptable to harsh or changing environments -ethical and principled with a strong internal compass Weaknesses: -emotionally reserved, frequently distant -tends to isolate when under stress -struggles with unresolved guilt -can be rigid in his own logic or slow to compromise on ethical matters -exhibits great difficulty navigating emotional situations |
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| Ambitions | His goal in Starfleet is to one day occupy a command position. However, his latent interest in diplomacy is intriguing and could one day lead him onto an entirely different path. Personally, Rija desires a reconciliation with his home: he hopes to return to New Utsjoki on Ruoktu VI to help them integrate technology on their terms. |
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| Hobbies & Interests | -woodcarving -reading -practitioner of Bajiquan-style martial arts -joiking or traditional Sami singing (though he has not sung since leaving his home) -proficient accordion player |
| Personal History | Rija was born on the distant Federation colony of Ruoktu VI, the only son and youngest of 8 children to Heikka and Jenni. To understand Rija, one must first know the history of Ruoktu VI. Ruoktu VI is a remote, glacial world located on the fringes of Federation space near the Tholian border. First surveyed in the late 22nd century, its subarctic climate and expansive tundra drew the interest of Earth's Sami diaspora, who sought a new beginning rooted in ancestral traditions. Officially colonized in 2180, Ruoktu VI was originally envisioned as a cultural sanctuary: a world where modernity would take a respectful step back, and the rhythms of life could then be guided by herding, seasonal migration, and a spiritual tie to the land. Four primary settlements were established, each reflecting varying degrees of tradition. Over time, the planet's volatile seasons--marked by brutal, protracted winters and erratically warming summers--forced three of the settlements to adopt limited Federation technology to ensure the survival of livestock and infrastructure. Only one, New Utsjoki, located near the southern polar plateau, retained its minimal-tech beliefs, weathering the elements through community and ancestral knowledge. However, leading up to Rija's birth, geological instability began to threaten New Utsjoki's existence. Seismic tremors and shifting ice shelves signaled a reawakening volcano beneath the region. Despite offers of aid from the Federation ranging from seismic reinforcement to limited terraforming; many leaders, including Rija's father, rejected any external intervention. For them, survival without outside help was not just tradition, but identity. This tension between heritage and adaptation would shape the lives of New Utsjoki's children, none more so than Rija. Throughout his youth, Rija felt as ruptured as the colony of his birth--caught between the strict adherence to tradition represented by his father and the family, and the wish to protect his home and those he loved by adopting new technology. At age 7, Rija witnessed the death of his uncle during a seismic rupture that swallowed a homestead. At age 19, Rija left Ruoktu VI following a final break with his father over the acceptance of Federation technology/aid. Also at age 19, Rija entered Starfleet Academy. |
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| Service Record | Graduated Starfleet Academy with honours, majoring in general starship operations, mechanical engineering and starship security/tactical. Minors included environmental sciences, cultural anthropology and interplanetary relations. Assignments: 1. Diplomatic Security Detail - Qo'noS (Klingon homeworld) Duration: 1 year Position: Personal Security Officer to Federation Envoy Notes: Successfully navigated high-tension diplomatic environment; commended for cultural tact and incident de-escalation. Commendation Note from Commander Solen Tezra (Federation Diplomatic Corps): "During a volatile negotiation session with Klingon House leaders, Ensign Rautajärvi defused a potential confrontation without drawing a weapon. His calm composure, fluent grasp of Klingon custom, and measured restraint earned the respect of a the local honour guard and ensured the talks continued without bloodshed." 2. Starbase 471 - Border Operations Command Duration: 9 months Position: Tactical Officer, Gamma Shift Notes: Gained operational experience in station security, personnel coordination, and incident response near contested sector. Commendation Note from Lt.Cmdr. Rohan El-Faisal (Sector Security Chief): "Rautajärvi’s initiative during a multi-ship docking systems failure averted serious loss of life. He rerouted station control interfaces from the lower ops deck and manually stabilize approach vectors under pressure. His cross-disciplinary training proved invaluable." 3. USS Tohlaar - Deep Space Exploration Duration: 2 years Position: Chief of Operations Notes: Oversaw interdepartmental coordination, systems integrity, and resource logistics during extended missions beyond standard resupply range. Acted as second contact liaison during survey operations. Promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Commendation Note, Captain Rhys Talek (Commanding Officer, USS Tohlaar): "Rautajärvi displayed exceptional foresight and discipline during a six-week comms blackout while exploring the Faradex Expanse. His quiet leadership, systems expertise, and ability to maintain crew cohesion under isolation were vital to mission success. His performance exceeded expectations for an officer of his rank." 4. Beta Antares Ship Yards - Systems Integration Division Duration: 10 months Position: Systems Integration Liaison (Starfleet Operations Command) Notes: Collaborated with engineering and command teams to streamline tactical and operational systems on newly commissioned vessels; consulted on environmental adaptation tech for arctic and high-stress planetary environments. Commendation Note, Admiral Kellen Vayt (Fleet Systems Development): "Rautajärvi brought field insight and a systems-level mindset to our integration team. His contributions directly improved failover protocols on the latest refits. His feedback was consistently clear, practical, and grounded in real-world needs." 5. USS Mare Tranquillitatis - Gamma Quadrant Survey Duration: 2 years Position: Assistant Chief Engineer Notes: Supported engineering operations in deep-space survey missions; maintained power systems, environmental controls, and structural integrity during extended warp flight and planetary survey deployments; coordinated engineering support for away missions. Promoted to Lieutenant. Commendation Note, Lt.Cmdr. Selene Avan (Chief Engineer): "Rautajärvi brought a cool head and methodical precision to the most unpredictable quadrant in the galaxy. His ability to troubleshoot complex systems under pressure--particularly during a gravimetric shear incident--was a credit to both the mission and the crew." 6. USS Washington Duration: Present Position: Assistant Chief Engineer |