Stefan Andreevich is a former serf who became one of the leaders of a band of refugees seeking refuge in Czar Mikhail Romanov's government nested in Ufa. He left when his lord sent the men from his village to a factory in another town and so left them unable to meet the yearly quota leading to the threat of starvation.
He is convinced by Father Yulian to bring the entire village along on their journey as they would be punished for his family leaving and the additional people would give them a better chance of survival in the East. Stefan proved to be a natural leader and quite capable fighter when during the attack on Ufa by Khanate forces, Stefan rallies the factory workers to repulse them. Because of this, he was made a Captain in the United Sovereign States of Russia by the decree of Czar Mikhail. During the attack on Ufa, the actions of his troops stymied the Tartar Army and bought enough time for the defenders of the city to retreat behind the barricades.
Captured by the Khanate Army, he was later released as negotiations between the Tatars and Czar's Free Russia started.