Theodoisa Ontilés

**Theodoisa Ontilés** is a member of the Cordelian Space Corps. She initially served aboard the *CSS Ilza* in CY 1912, and was the sole survivor when the ship crashed on Dereth, the moon of Zulmitune. She later encounters Hisperian Lieutenants Thalia Mazin and Zar Vox who she assists in their mission on Dereth, and accompanies them on their journey back to the *HRSS Calypso*.

## Biography

### Early Life

Theodoisa was born in CY 1893 on Cordelia Prime in the city of Natala. Her father was a Sergeant in the Cordelian Army and was a volunteer in the Cordelian Expeditionary Force during the Kirmiian War. He was killed just weeks after his daughter was born, and never got to meet her. Growing up, Theodosia had a distaste for conflict and often avoided confrontations. A soft-spoken child, Theodosia's teachers called her timid and shy. While her quietness was perceived as shyness, Theodosia was patient and always paid extra attention to details and remembered the smallest facts about a person or a conversation. This allowed her to become an excellent mediator of arguments, as her patience and memory of details allowed her to calm people down when angry and to construct defensible sides in conflicts. Theodosia had an older brother, Martin, and a older sister, Avisa.

Theodosia was accepted into the Natala Aerospace Academy when she was 14 years old, and she quickly found that she preferred remaining on ships as opposed to being a starfighter pilot. Her instructors saw a promising career as a Science or Medical Officer ahead of her.

### Onboard the CSS Ilza

Upon turning 17, Theodosia was enlisted in the Cordelian Military, opting for service in the Cordelian Star Corps. She was assigned to the *CSS Ilza*, a Cordelian Science Ship that was designed to serve as a portable laboratory that could double as a transport or light cruiser if needed. As an Ensign she was mentored by the ship's Deputy Science Officer, Lieutenant Ouvard, who became a father figure for Theodosia. Theodosia's time aboard the Ilza saw her quickly find herself at home in the ship's laboratories, where she assisted in conducting experiments that studied how edible plants grew in atmospheres with low oxygen. By early CY 1912, Theodosia had achieved the rank of Lieutenant.

### Attack on the CSS Ilza

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 hyperspace 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 hyperspace above the planet Zulmitune and quickly sought to distance themselves by heading towards Dereth, the moon of Zulmitune. Theodosia was in Laboratory 10B at the time of the attack, which was quickly 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. Theodosia was almost pulled out into the vacuum of space as she was in Hallway 13, near the newest hole, but blast doors quickly closed, sealing off the destroyed section of the ship. Arriving in one of the Safety Rooms, Theodosia, Lieutenant Ouvard, and several others quickly prepared for the ship's possible destruction and their ejection into space. 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 much of the crew was killed on impact. The Safety Room protected eight crew members: Theodosia, Lieutenant Ouvard, Second Lieutenant Axidis, Dr. Rouzet, Dr. Naudé, Lieutenant Pinchon, Ensign Leroux, and Ensign Neri from the initial explosions throughout the ship, but upon impact, the room was breached and had its back wall ripped off, killing Naudé, Neri, and Axidis, and injuring the rest. As the wreck settled, flames spread throughout the entire wreckage of the ship. Theodosia and the other survivors attempt to escape the flames, but not all of them were able to move in time. Lieutenant Pinchon and Dr. Rouzet were too injured to move and died as flames and smoke entered the room. Lieutenant Ouvard was badly injured and bleeding profusely, and was dragged from the wreck by Theodosia. Lieutenant Ouvard died in Theodosia's arms after being pulled from the wreck.