IS (IS〈インフィニット・ストラトス〉 IS ?)

STORYLINE

In the near future, a Japanese scientist engineers a powered exoskeleton called "Infinite Stratos" (IS). Possessing technology and combat capabilities far more advanced than any other weapon system, the IS threatens to destabilize the world. Faced with such an overpowering weapon, the nations of the world enact the "Alaska Treaty", which states that IS will never be used for military combat and that existing IS technology must be equally distributed to all nations, to prevent any one nation from dominating the others. The introduction of the IS does, however, have a major effect on society. As IS can only be operated by women, there is a shift in the power balance between men and women, where women now dominate society over men.

Ten years after IS was initially introduced, the world has entered a new age of peace. The peace is shattered, however, by an unexpected discovery. A 15 year-old Japanese boy, Ichika Orimura, is discovered to be capable of operating an IS. Realizing the potential, Ichika is forced by the Japanese government to attend the prestigious Infinite Stratos Academy, an international academy where IS pilots from all over the world are trained. Thus his busy high school life surrounded by nothing but girls who can use IS begins.

CHARACTERS

 Ichika Orimura (織斑 一夏 Orimura Ichika^?)

Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama (Japanese), Josh Grelle (English)

The protagonist of Infinite Stratos. He is a first year student at the IS Academy. His older sister, Chifuyu, is a legendary IS pilot who raised him when the siblings' parents abandoned them at a young age. Despite how harshly she treats him, he loves his sister dearly. As the first male IS pilot, his new reputation has made him somewhat famous as many scientists and engineers would like to study him. He is oblivious to the fact that some of his female friends have feelings for him. He pilots the Byakushiki (白式^?, lit. White Expressions) IS,^[1] a prototype, one of only two developed 4th generation IS and a short-range melee-class IS. He also possesses the Yukihira Type 2 (雪片弐型 Yukihira Nigata^?), an upgraded version of the IS energy blade that once belonged to his sister's machine, and Core Number 001, the very first IS core.

Later on, Byakushiki undergoes Second Shift shortly after Houki acquires her personal unit, Akatsubaki. In the resulting Second Shift form, named Byakushiki Setsura (白式雪羅^?), it is equipped with a multi-purpose unit (named Setsura, for which the form is named after), which has multiple functions including a large caliber charged particle cannon, an energy claw for close-quarters combat, and an energy shield with One Off attribute. In its Second Shift, Byakushiki also gains an increase in mobility through the addition of 4 large wing thrusters, enabling it to execute Double Ignition Boost.^{[volume & issue needed]} In this Second Shift form, it is the best IS ever made along with Houki's Akatsubaki.

 Houki Shinonono (篠ノ之 箒 Shinonono Hōki^?)

Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)

Houki is a first year student at the IS Academy and Ichika's childhood friend, though they have not seen each other for six years.^[2] She has a very long ponytail.^[3] Her place of residence is home to a kendo dojo and she has been interested in kendo since she was young. Houki even competes in kendo competitions at a national level, and was the winner of the national tournament that was hosted one year before the story of Infinite Stratos began.^[4] She is part of the kendo club at the IS academy. Her older sister, Tabane Shinonono, is the creator of the IS, though their relationship is strained. Six years ago, Ichika agreed to become her boyfriend if she could win the national kendo tournament of their grade. However, the day of the tournament was also the day the IS was introduced to the world. Due to the familal links to Tabane, Houki's family was placed under government protection and Houki was forced to withdraw from the kendo tournament. Since that incident, Houki has hated her sister for moving her away from the boy she loves and abandoning their family.

Despite not seeing him for a long time, Houki still harbors strong feelings for Ichika, as her continuing practice of kendo was her only link to him. She was his initial roommate prior to Charles's (and later Sarashiki's) arrival, and tends to get jealous when other girls are around him. Originally not possessing a personal IS, in Volume 4 she receives and pilots the Akatsubaki (紅椿^?, lit. Red Camellia) IS, one of only two developed 4th generation IS and a short-range melee-class IS, armed with twin katana named Amatsuki (雨月^?, "Rainy Moon") and Karaware (空裂^?, "Cracked Sky"). The Akatsubaki has a one-off ability called Kenran Butō (絢爛舞踏^?, "Magnificent Dance"), which allows Houki to replenish both her own and other IS's energy when she comes in contact with them. However, because she is still unskilled as a pilot and her compatibility with the IS is only at grade C, she is still considered to be on the same level of the other girls. As of Volume 7, her compatibility has been increased to grade S.

 Cecilia Alcott (セシリア・オルコット Seshiria Orukotto^?)

Voiced by: Yukana (Japanese), Brittney Karbowski (English)

Cecilia is a first year student at the IS Academy and is an IS Cadet Representative of England, as part of the British Aristocracy. Her father was a spoiled and timid man who had little influence both inside and outside the Alcott family which made her swore to never marry a weak man (A difficulty due to the shift in social status). She was lost both of her parents at the age of 12 after a deadly train accident, and she was forced to protect her family fortune from those who wished to claim a stake of it. After showing high IS aptitude, she makes a deal with the British government, who, in exchange for protecting her family's assets, wants her to go to the IS Academy as a Cadet Representative to gather data for their latest 3rd generation model. She was almost defeated by Ichika for the position of class representative but won due to a technicality, but later cedes her position to Ichika. She soon starts to see him as a true man and falls in love with him. She pilots the Blue Tears (ブルー・ティアーズ Burū Tiāzu^?) IS, a long-range sniper-class IS, which can deploy four remotely controlled "drones" (aka "Blue Tears", for which the IS is named) for engaging enemies at short and medium range. The Blue Tears IS is also equipped with the Starlight Mark III (スターライトmkIII Sutāraito Māku Surī^?), a large laser rifle, and Interceptor (インターセプター Intāseputā^?), a short blade used for close-range combat. In the anime, Blue Tears is shown to also have a pair of rocket launchers attached to the hips, in place of two other Blue Tears shown in the light novels, used at close to long-range on different occasions.

 Huang Lingyin (凰 鈴音 Fan Rin'in^?)

Voiced by: Asami Shimoda (Japanese), Hilary Haag (English)

Lingyin is a first year student at the IS Academy, the class representative of her class and is an IS Cadet Representative of China. Like Houki, Lingyin has been friends with Ichika since they were little. She has been in love with Ichika since he protected her against four school bullies. Lingyin at first becomes extremely hostile to Ichika after he forgets the details of a promise they made as kids (which was if she became an excellent cook, he would be her boyfriend). She is also called "Ling" (鈴 Rin^?) as a pet name by others. Her family ran a Chinese restaurant that Ichika would often eat at before Ling's parents divorced and she moved back to China. She pilots the Shenlong (甲龍 Shenron/Kōryū^?) IS, a short-to-medium-range melee-type IS with powerful "Impact Cannons" hidden in the shoulder armor. It is also armed with the Sōten Gagetsu (双天牙月^?), a pair of liuyedao that can be connected to form a naginata-like weapon.

 Charlotte Dunois (シャルロット・デュノア Sharurotto Dyunoa^?)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese), Shannon Emerick (English)

Charlotte is a first year student at the IS Academy and is an IS Cadet Representative of France. Charlotte was originally introduced in the series as "Charles", the second "male" IS pilot student that was transferred into Ichika's class. Charlotte's true purpose at the academy, however, was to spy on Ichika, discover how he is able to pilot an IS and acquire data from his IS (which at the time was considered the most advanced 3rd-generation unit). Because she enrolls as a male IS pilot, she is paired with Ichika as roommates since they are "both" guys. As a result of this arrangement, Ichika later discovers her true gender. When Ichika learns Charlotte's father and his corporation used her to spy on him, Ichika decides to help protect her. She later falls in love with Ichika due to his bravery. She pilots the Raphael-Revive Custom II (ラファール・リヴァイヴ・カスタムII Rafāru Revaivu Kasutamu Tsū^?) IS, a 2nd-generation custom multi-range IS possessing a wide array of interchangeable weapons allowing for fast battlefield adaptation and capable of performing the Ignition Boost. Her weapons, once called upon, can be used by another IS pilot as long as she grants permission. Due to her training to make her a convincing male prior to her entry to the IS Academy, Charlotte uses "boku" (the male equivalent of "I") when referring to herself. Following the Silver Gospel Incident in later novels, Charlotte becomes Laura's roommate.

Laura Bodewig (ラウラ・ボーデヴィッヒ Raura Bōdevihhi^?)

Voiced by: Marina Inoue (Japanese), Tiffany Grant (English)

Laura is a first year student at the IS Academy and is an IS Cadet Representative of Germany. A genetically engineered super-soldier, Laura is the commander of the German IS special forces, Schwarzer Hase (シュヴァルツェア・ハーゼ Shuvarutsea Hāze^?, German for "Black Rabbit"). She has red eyes and long silver hair, her most distinct feature being a black eye patch covering her left eye. Her left eye glows yellow, the result of a failed nano-machine experiment that was meant to help her pilot an IS better. Laura was under Chifuyu's tutelage when the latter was an instructor for the German army following the 2nd Mondo Grosso, and holds Chifuyu in high regard as Chifuyu helped her and was her role model when she suffered a depression for not being the strongest.^[5] It should be noted that her current name is actually a code name given to her by the German military and her real name remains unknown.

Laura's original purpose for coming to the IS Academy was to punish Ichika, who she blames for his sister withdrawing from the 2nd IS International Fighting Tournament. She was unaware that Ichika has been kidnapped and that Chifuyu had withdrawn in order to go save him. She at first easily defeats Ling and Cecilia but struggles against the team play of Ichika and Charlotte and is beaten by Charlotte during the class tournament. In desperation, the dormant VT-System within her activates, causing her to go berserk, defeating both Charlotte and Ichika. She is then stopped by Ichika who also calms and console her in the Inter-IS subspace. After consoling her in the subspace, she realizes what Chifuyu sees in him and falls in love with him. Upon learning Ichika's strength is his freedom to choose and helping those around him and Chifuyu's advice, Laura decides to become Ichika's bodyguard to protect him against the other girls by kissing him in front of his class, declaring Ichika will be her wife (a misunderstanding of her knowledge of Japanese culture) and she won't accept any objections. She later becomes Charlotte's roommate in later novels following the Silver Gospel incident.

Laura pilots the Schwarzer Regen (「シュヴァルツェア・レーゲン Shuvarutsea Rēgen^?, German for "Black Rain") IS, a medium-to-long-range artillery-type IS. The Schwarzer Regen possess several remotely guided tethers, which Laura uses to capture and restrain her opponents while she attacks them with her slow, but extremely powerful rail gun. The Schwarzer Regen also possesses an "Active Inertial Canceller", which can be used to stop the movements of any object within its range. While a very powerful defense, the canceller can only be used against one target at a time.