CSS Ilza

The CSS Ilza was a Guardian-class light battlecruiser that was in service of the Kiros Alliance under the Cordelian Navy. The ship was led by Captain Desmarais in the years prior to the onset of Kiros-Valzovech War.

The Ilza was a Guardian-class light battlecruiser that had much of its armament stripped away to make the ship a science vessel. The ship was retrofitted for long-distance exploration and for conduction experiments onboard the ship. Due to the long nature of its missions, crew members could bring their families onboard for voyages. Most of the crew worked in the Science section of the ship, with the Medical, Engineering, and Security sections being much smaller than the average starship. The ship had a quantum drive and was capable of entering quantum space.

The Ilza was not intended for combat, though it was equipped with essential military and defensive armaments. The ship was destroyed when it was shot down above Dereth, the moon of Zulmitune.

Destruction
In CY 1912, the CSS Ilza was en route from the Ludon System to the Ekoto System when the ship strayed into a space mine. The resulting explosion ripped a hole in the ship and disabled long range communications. Three cylindrical ships emerged from quantum space and immediately opened fire on the Ilza. The ship, which was minimally armed, attempted to radio for help but no communications could go through. Captain Desmarais made an emergency jump to the Troisnom System, but was followed by their attackers. The Ilza emerged from quantum space above the planet Zulmitune and quickly sought to distance themselves by heading towards Dereth, the moon of Zulmitune. The various laboratories aboard the ship were evacuated to Safety Rooms that were heavily armored and pressurized and could survive for some time if the ship was damaged to the point that their life support was knocked out. When the ship arrived above Zulmitune, another explosion ripped a hole through Decks B, C, and D, near Laboratory 10B. Hallway 13 was damaged from the newest hole and several crewmembers were pulled out, but blast doors quickly closed and sealed off the destroyed section of the ship. The Ilza reached Dereth's gravitational pull when the engines exploded, sending the now flaming ship crashing into the moon. The Ilza broke into three pieces upon impact, and the majority of the crew, including Captain Desmarais, were killed on impact. Several Safety Rooms were breached upon impact, and many were killed immediately or as a result of their injuries. As the wreck settled, flames spread throughout the entire wreckage of the ship.

Legacy
The Ilza was reported as lost in action after a search by the Cordelian Navy in CY 1912. The entire crew was presumed killed in action, and it wasn't until Thalia Mazin and Zar Vox's Mission to Dereth in CY 1913 that any survivors were found. Lieutenant Theodosia Ontilés was the sole survivor of the crash.

Appearances

 * 1) Apocalypso Ascendant