Infinite Stratos
IS <Infinite Stratos> IS
<Infinitto Sutoratosu>?) is a Japanese light novel series by Izuru
Yumizuru with illustrations provided by Okiura. As of April 2011, 7
volumes have been published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J
label. A manga adaptation by Kenji Akahoshi started serialization in the
seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on May 27, 2010. An anime
adaptation aired in Japan from January 6 to March 31, 2011
Story Synopsis
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 for dominating the others. The introduction of the IS does
however have a major effect on society. As IS can only be operated by
women, the power balance between men and women is broken, with women
coming to dominate society over men.
Ten years after the first IS were 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, named 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 school life surrounded by
girls begins.
Character Introduction
Main Characters
Ichija Orimura
The main protagonist of the Infinite Stratos series. A normal japanese
teenage boy, untill it is discovered that he can manipulate an IS which
could only be used by women. This event triggered his admission into
IS Academy. He is the pilot of the 3rd-4th Generation IS [Byakushiki]
Houki Shinonono
One of the protagonists of Infinite Stratos, a 1st year student of
the IS Academy and the 1st childhood friend of Ichika. She is the
1st heroine to be introduced in the Infinite Stratos series. Doesn't
have a personal IS in the beginning. But later comes into possession
of the 4th Generation IS [Akatsubaki]
Cecilia Alcott
Another protagonist of Infinite Stratos, a 1st year student of the
IS Academy and the IS Representative Cadet of England. She is the
2nd heroine to be introduced to the Infinite Stratos series.
She pilots the 3rd Generation IS [Blue Tears]
Lingyin Huang
Charles Dunois
A 1st year transfer student at the IS Academy and supposedly the second
male capable of using an IS. IS Representative Cadet from France. Seems
to harbor secrets. Uses the 2nd Generation IS [Raphael-Revive Custom II]
Introduction & Impact of the IS
Introduction
When the IS was first proposed it was scoffed at and few people paid
it any attention. A month later, a "Mysterious" hacker hacked the
military missile bases and ships all over the world launching 2341
ballistic and cruise missiles towards all major cities in Japan. The
world‘s first and only IS sortied and neutralized 1221 of the missiles
with a sword and the rest were shot down with energy weapons -something
no country in the world had the technology of producing.
This IS was later code named "White Knight".
It's faceless pilot claimed no allegiance to any worldly nations and
was attacked by several major world powers seeking to capture or destroy
it. The White Knight fended off its attackers destroying 207 next gen
fighter aircrafts, disabling 7 aircraft carriers and its naval escorts,
in addition 8 weaponized military spy satellites was also destroyed.
The IS showed that it was capable of generating a nigh
invulnerable shield barrier, 100% optical camouflage, hyper-sonic speeds
and capable pulling off insane high G maneuvers without seemingly
unaffected by gravity induced blackout/redouts and also space flight.
The "White Knight" IS was never seen again after the incident and its pilot's identity remain a secret to the general public.
Impact
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 for dominating the others.
The introduction of the IS does however have a major effect on
society. As IS can only be operated by women, the power balance between
men and women is broken, with women coming to dominate society over men.
The reason why only female can activate IS (and why Ichika is the only male who can activate IS) is currently unknown. But it is hinted in the novel that Tabane Shinonono,
the creator of IS, did not deliberately configure IS to be female-only
platform. She mentions that it was a accidental side-effect, and since
she didn't really care about that factor, she didn't see any reason to
bother with it.
Laura Bodewig
The most recent 1st year transfer student at the IS Academy and is the
IS Representative Cadet of Germany. She was the first antagonist of the
novel, before becoming an ally of Ichika. She commands the 3rd Generation IS [Schwarzer Regen]
Components
The basic components of an IS are:
- Cores - The Black box of an IS that allows it to function. Because only 467 Cores were created, most of them are shared by the world's governments where only a few IS pilots, who work under certain organizations and large corporations, possess their own personal IS. The reason for having Designated Pilot and Personal IS lies with the very nature of IS itself; possessing self evolving mechanism which is manifested only when IS is kept paired with a pilot for a prolonged time. It is considered illegal to exchange or remove the cores, due to the fact the core is a mixture of an AI and a power source. Of the 467 cores created, 322 are used for actual combat and the remaining 145 are handed over to research facilities and enterprises of various countries.
- Energy Barrier/Absolute Defense - The Absolute Protection is activated by IS itself and not by pilot.
If the attack is deemed by the IS as not life-threatening to cause serious injury to its pilot, IS would not activate Absolute Protection ability, even if it results in minor~moderate injury to its pilot.
This ability is said to be able to protect the pilot from any kind of attack, but it also has seriously high power consumption, depleting the power of IS with just single activation (In that sense, it is more like pilot safety mechanism rather than combat defense mechanism). In competitions, the pilot is declared to have lost the fight if the shield level hits zero, so as to avoid any injury to the pilots. - Preset - The standard weapon/equipment that all IS possess in the beginning, such as swords for melee type, rifles for long range.
- Valkyrie Trace System (VT) - A piece of equipment/program that emulates the performance of winners from Mondo Grosso.
Basically, it tries to copy all aspects of previous Mondo Grosso
champion, theoretically enabling any IS to fight like the champion - who
is basically the world's strongest.
However, the system is flawed that it strains the pilot to extreme level, often threatening her life.
As the result of that, R&D and employment of VT system is strictly banned by Alaska Treaty. The only known user is Laura Bodewig.
Forms of IS
The following talks about the different forms an IS will take:
- Inactive Form - The form all IS take when there are no pilots. In this case, IS retains the physical manifestation of its components even when inactivated, and call-up just activates IS without any significant visible change. Described by Ichika to be kneeling like a samurai before its Lord. All Training IS are in this state since the fitting process is rendered useless due to multiple users.
- Closed Form - The form the IS takes when not being used. It takes on different shapes for different users, mostly accessories like ear-rings for girls, and a gauntlet for Ichika.
- Default Setting - The form it takes when it is being used for the first time. The IS have the basics like flight capabilities, shielded barrier and its related weapon, but the power exhibited is very low, thus it is not recommended to be used immediately in a fight. Once the IS has finished configuring all the settings for the user, it will take the next form.
- 1st Shift - The form taken after the IS has finished configuring the settings. This is the stage that most users would have for Personal IS. Here they gained full usage of the weaponry given, like the Yukihara from its default metal blade to the energy blade.
- 2nd Shift - An upgrade from the 1st Shift. This is apparently a rare case for an IS to go into a second form, as there are not many cases of IS unit evolving to 2nd Shift. In 2nd Shift, the IS undergoes a dramatic transformation, altering its appearance and gaining new abilitles, in particular, the One Off Ability, which is unique only to that particular unit. So far in the series, the Byakushiki and the Silver Gospel are the only 2 known IS to achieve this form.
Types of IS
Due to the limited number of IS cores (467 to be exact), most of them are being used in R&D, being distributed and shared among the world's governments and corporations. The types of IS are split into 2 categories:- Training IS - Used to train IS students in how to use an IS. It's settings remain the same despite the user. Japan, being the leading pioneer for IS, has developed a mass-production version to train the girls at IS academy, but one must have permission to use it.
- Personal IS - Special IS units that "bond" and change to fit with the user's specifications. Originally harder to use in their default settings but once formatted to their users, they become like an extension of the users themselves. Personal IS units' abilities far surpass those of the Training IS units, boasting greater output in firepower, speed and maneuverability, etc.
Generation Category
In the light novels, it is stated that there are 4 generations of IS with each generation surpassing the previous in terms of overall specifications, the latest generation being Byakushiki (Ichika) and Akatsubaki (Houki). Each generation of IS has its own specific theme and goal to achieve:- 1st Generation IS: The basic goal of 1st Gen. IS was the completion of IS. The R&D was focused on applying various IS related technologies to produce a stable, operational IS.
- 2nd Generation IS: The basic goal of 2nd Gen. IS was the utilization of add-on capability, known as Equalizer. Application of various equalizer packages enabled the 2nd Gen. IS capable of various assignments.
- 3rd Generation IS: The basic goal of 3rd Gen. IS is the application of advanced Image-Interface technology, enabling it to field more advanced weapons such as BT (Blue Tears), Shock Cannon and AIC.
- 4th Generation IS: The basic goal of 4th Gen. IS is the application of Fold-Out armor, which enables the IS to configure itself to a form that maximize specific role, whether attack, defense, or mobility. This makes the 4th Gen. IS capable of performing various assignments just by switching its function in real time, not requiring the time-consuming process of changing Equalizer.
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