This article describes Queen Stasha Iscandar from Space Battleship Yamato 2199. For her counterpart in the original Space Battleship Yamato, see Stasha (OS).
You only live once. That's why you foster a strong will to find fulfillment in your life. A life ends when the time comes. That's what life really is.
—Stasha Iscandar, [2]
Stasha Iscandar (STASHA ISCANDAR, Stasha Iscandar)[6][7] was the last queen of the planet Iscandar and, along with her sisters Yurisha and Sasha, she was one of the last surviving members of the Iscandarian race. She was crucial in steering the evolving relation between the Iscandarians and their former slave-race, the Garmillas, into a more equal one. Following her personal interpretation of Iscandarism, she helped saving life on Earth from an ongoing attack by the Greater Garmillan Empire, despite her close personal and political ties to the empire and its Supreme Leader, Abelt Desler.
Years later, she was one of the major players in the Iscandar Incident, which ended with her death alongside that of her world and the empire.
History[]
Early life[]
Stasha Iscandar was born into the Iscandarian royal family, as the older sister of princesses Sasha and Yurisha Iscandar.[8][9] She underwent the ritual to enter the Sanctel, which turned her into an element, a static memory, but granted her eternal life. Entering the vault would usually make one lose their body, but as a member of the royal family, Stasha was granted phisicality to fullfil the role of guarding the Sanctel. She soon realized that the unchanging existance the vault granted her was not truly life, and she grew to despise her condition, as well as the terrible wars powered by wave-motion energy weapons the Iscandarians' empire had undertaken to turn various civilizations into elements and store them in the Sanctel.[10]
Stasha whispering to Desler to grow up fast
Although the bloody campaigns had ceased, there remained the issue of the Garmillans, a group of Galmans that had been kidnapped from their homeworld Galman by the Iscandarians to make them continue their wars in their stead while they themselves all entered the Sanctel. The Garmillans were only capable of living on planet Garmillas, a copy of their original home planet created artificially on Iscandar's double planet, and had been manipulated into worshipping the people of Iscandar and cherishing their genetic purity, which effectively meant they were not capable, nor willing to, survive long periods away from Iscandar's control. Stasha sought to change the relationship her world had with Garmillas from one of subservience to a more equal one.[10] For this reason, around 2174,[11] she received a delegation from the Garmillas Grand Duchy, and, noticing the young nephew of Grand Duke Erich, Abelt Desler, she whispered in his ear to "grow up fast," hoping he would help her on her mission when he grew up.[12]
Stasha also altered the philosophy of Iscandarism from one that aimed at imprisoning all sentient life into the Sanctel to one that tried to bring salvation to all through more peaceful means.[10] To further this goal, at least one ship was sent to a less-developed civilization around the 19th century.[13]
Desler makes his proposition to Stasha
The fall of the Garmillas Grand Duchy into civil war led the then eighteen-year-old Desler to take up arms and reunite his planet. At the beginning of his campaign, in 2184,[14] Desler visited Iscandar and met with Stasha.[15][3] He proposed bringing together Garmillas and Iscandar, but she believed that the two planets' ideals were too different. To convince her, Desler promised he would spread the ideals of her new Iscandarism throughout the cosmos.[3] However, under this guise, Desler became a brutal dictator and began a series of massive campaigns to expand the territory of his newly founded Greater Garmillan Empire. His true hope was that these expansionary wars would help him find a new home planet suitable for long-term Garmillan immigration since planet Garmillas had begun to approach the end of its planetary lifetime.[15] Stasha knew of Desler's ambition, and saw him and his people walking in the same direction Iscandar had followed and she had forsaken centuries prior.[10] In the following years, a hotline was established linking Supreme Leader Desler and Stasha's palaces, but the Iscandarian Queen's pleads did not sway Desler from his path.[16]
Between Earth and Garmillas[]
Offering help[]
Stasha's message to the Earthlings
Stasha finally acted after Desler began subjecting the distant planet of Earth to years of bombardment. She offered the people of Earth a device called the Cosmo Reverse System that could restore their ravaged world. However, the technology couldn't be brought to Earth directly, so she invited one of their ships to reach Iscandar. Since the Earthlings didn't possess the technology necessary to travel faster than light, she took her sister Yurisha out of the Sanctel[10] and sent her to Earth to give them the plans to build a wave-motion engine. Yurisha was also to act as an observer among the Earthlings, as Stasha didn't entirely trust them to use the immense power of wave-motion energy responsibly and peacefully.[17] A year later, she sent Sasha to Earth to give the Earthlingsthe last component needed to activate the engine, which also contained a video message from her.[1][8]
Stasha kept her communications with Earth secret while continuing to work with Desler. In March of 2199,[18] Desler contacted her and expressed suspicion that her planet could be the destination of the Yamato, a Earthling battleship that had been causing trouble for the Garmillas military. Stasha denied any involvement, and Desler reaffirmed that she was the spiritual pillar of his empire and that he wished to see her in person soon.[19]
Meeting Mamoru Kodai[]
Stasha stands alongside Kodai as he records
Around the time that the Earth mission to Iscandar began in early 2199, a Garmillas vessel crash-landed on Iscandar. The entire Garmillas crew and all but one of their Earthling prisoners, captured from the wreck of the destroyer Yukikaze, were killed. Stasha was able to temporarily nurse the lone survivor, Lieutenant Commander Mamoru Kodai, back to health. She informed him of the impending arrival of the Yamato, and the two fell in love. They conceived a child, but Kodai soon succumbed to his injuries again. In his last days, Stasha stood by his side while he recorded a message for Yamato's crew.[3]
Following his death, Stasha preserved Kodai's consciousness as pure energy, intending to use him to power the Cosmo Reverse System once the Earthlings arrived on Iscandar.[3][20]
The Earthlings' arrival and Desler's fall[]
Stasha watches Desler's announcing the Great Unification
In July,[21] as the conflict between Earth and Garmillas reached its apex, Desler announced that Yurisha had given her agreement for the Great Unification of Iscandar and Garmillas. In shock, Stasha witnessed the announcement being broadcasted from her planet.[22]
Shocked by his actions and claims, Stasha begs Desler to stop
Her faith in both sides of the war was shattered soon after. During a battle between the Greater Garmillan Empire and Yamato, she saw Desler's new space station firing a wave-motion energy weapon and annihilating a nearby planet. She immediately contacted the Supreme Leader and questioned what he was doing, stating that using wave-motion energy as a weapon was sheer madness. Desler sarcastically asked if she was calling him just to complain, which she confirmed sternly. Irritated, the Supreme Leader revealed to her that the Earthlings had built the same weapon he was using, greatly shocking her. He then changed the subject and informed her that her sister would be kept safe from the events to come. Fearing what he was going to do, Stasha asked him what his intentions were, but he just said that everything he was doing was for her sake. She begged him to stop, but he ended the call. Alone in her palace, Stasha looked up at Garmillas, pleading with Desler to end his folly.[23]
Desler appeared to have died in the battle when his station was sabotaged. However, his claim about the Earthlings was proven correct when the Yamato unleashed its Wave-motion Gun to destroy a piece of the station that had been dropped onto the Garmillan capital.[23]
On the same day,[21] Yamato landed on Iscandar, and Stasha met with their delegation. She welcomed back Yurisha and a woman who she believed to be Sasha, but her sister corrected her and stated that she was talking to an Earthling. Another Earthling officer informed her that Sasha had died on planet Mars months prior while trying to deliver their engine's last component. Stasha was visibly saddened by the news but soon regained her composure. She answered Terran's claim that Earth owed Sasha its survival by stating that they had corrupted their gift and made it into a weapon. The officer tried to respond but was ordered to stand down by his superior. The older man called the young officer "Kodai", surprising the Queen. She asked him his name, and he introduced himself as Lieutenant Susumu Kodai. The remaining officers also introduced themselves, but she ignored them. She asked Yurisha to tell her what she had seen, and stated she'd only talk to the Earthlings afterward.[3]
Starsha recieves Vice Leader Redoff Hiss
She ultimately decided not to grant them the coveted Cosmo Reverse System. She then received a call from the Garmillas Vice Leader, Redof Hiss, who confirmed Desler's passing and informed her that Yamato had protected Garmillas with its Wave-motion Gun during the previous battle, meaning they no longer had any conflict with them. However, she said that even if they didn't, she did. After finishing the conference, she was confronted by Yurisha, who asked her to give the Earthlings the CRS. She claimed to be still considering it, but Yurisha stated that the Earthlings were not like them or the Garmillans and that they had only used Wave-motion Energy to defend themselves.[3]
Stasha cries to Mamoru at the thought of having to separate
At night, Stasha conferred with Mamoru Kodai's spirit, who agreed that Yamato wouldn't have made it that far without their Wave-motion Gun. She understood that and saw that they had used that power to save even their enemies, acknowledging how strong their will to survive was. She fell to her knees, saying to her deceased lover that she had to tell Yamato's crew about him, especially since his former partner had come along with them. However, as tears formed in her eyes, she said that doing so would mean they'd be separated forever, and that Iscandar was too sad a planet.[3]
Starsha meets with Okita, Susumu Kodai, and other Yamato officers
Afterward, at sunrise, she boarded a small ship to reach Yamato and carried Kodai's consciousness with her. She asked to be let on board, stating that she had come to give them the Cosmo Reverser. She explained to the ship's captain, Admiral Juzo Okita, that she would transform Yamato itself into the element needed to power the system, and he gave his agreement. He showed remorse for the way they had abused wave-motion technology, and Stasha explained that Iscandar had done the same in the past and had brought war to the entire Large Magellanic Cloud. She made him promise that Earth would never build another weapon like it, which Okita accepted.[3] Their promise was also enshrined as a clause in the armistice between Yamato and Garmillas.[24]
Stasha then addressed Susumu Kodai. She asked for a minute of his time and brought him to the mass graveyard outside of Iscandar's capital, where she explained that all the bodies of the Iscandarian people had been buried. She also stated that no other planet should suffer the way Iscandar had. They stopped in front of Mamoru Kodai's grave, whom Susumu identified as his brother. She explained what had happened to him, expressed her remorse about not being able to save his life, and entrusted Susumu with the message he had recorded with her.[3]
Stasha watches Yamato take off, carrying Mamoru Kodai
On July 27,[21] Yamato finished receiving the components for the CRS and departed from Iscandar. Stasha watched the ship take off from the graveyard and bid Mamoru farewell as she placed her hand over her womb.[3]
Post-war period[]
With the war over and Desler gone, Yurisha went to Garmillas to become part of the Garmillas Empire's new provisional government and help in the reconstruction effort.[20] A companion of hers, Lieutenant Merda Ditz of the Imperial Garmillas Defense Force, eventually went to Iscandar to serve as a military attachée to the royal family.[25] In late 2203, she accompanied Stasha in a visit to the mass graveyard.[26]
The young Sasha was kept inside of a capsule
Stasha eventually gave birth to her and Mamoru Kodai's daughter, whom she named Sasha as a tribute to her deceased sister. She decided not to recreate of her sister from the Sanctel as she believed that only humans who have lived and died could truly experience life, and she did not want to take that away from her sister. Instead, she gave her daughter the same name in the hopes that her sister could one day reincarnate and live a fulfilling life. However, the young Sasha remained in an incorporeal form confined inside a capsule in the Queen's palace.[10]
Stasha saddenly ponders Desler's actions
In 2203, Abelt Desler resurfaced from his apparent death with a drastically changed mentality, and allied himself with the new Garmillas government.[26] He warned them of the upcoming destruction of the planet, and they joined forces to search for a new home. Stasha decided to leak the location of planet Galman, but the world had fallen under the control of another interstellar power known as the Bolar Federation. As Desler began preparations to take control of Galman, she asked Yurisha to come back to Iscandar.[27] In August of 2205,[4] Desler and the Garmillas Astro Fleet seized control of Galman from the Bolar Federation. Lieutenant Ditz reported the news to Stasha and Yurisha. She warned them that the planet might still be a battlefield when the first wave of immigrants arrived and that Iscandar might have to serve as a temporary shelter. Stasha reflected that the more Desler tried to redeem himself, the more he sinned.[28]
Iscandar Incident[]
Battle over Garmillas and Iscandar[]
On October 16,[4] an unknown enemy attacked planet Garmillas with a vast force of spear-like weapons. These weapons attached to the planet's surface and began sending shock waves to hasten its collapse. Stasha, Yurisha, and Ditz observed the situation from Iscandar. Ditz suggested the two royals take shelter, fearing that the attack could inflict damage on Iscandar too. However, despite her and her sister's worries, Stasha remained still. She realized that whoever the enemy was, their target wasn't Garmillas, but planet Iscandar.[29]
Stasha hears Yurisha's pleas to open Sanctel
She continued to watch as magma erupted from the core and washed over the surface, eventually causing the planet to collapse. Iscandar left its orbit and began unnaturally accelerating. The surviving Garmillas immigrant fleet landed on Iscandar, and as the planet's oceans froze over, Ditz approached Stasha to request the opening of Sanctel to store the civilians. Yurisha denied her request, stating that the vault was a sanctuary open only to the royal family, and those who hadn't undergone the correct ritual could not enter it. Despite her words, Yurisha also agreed with Ditz, and later, as a battle raged between Desler's forces and the unknown enemy faction, she implored her sister to make the Garmillan undergo the ritual. Stasha refused, stating that Yurisha was too young to understand what the ritual meant for a human. Seeing her appeal had failed, Yurisha turned to the capsule holding Sasha and meekly asked her if that was the reason her daughter had been kept like that.[29][30]
Stasha and Desler see each other for the first time in more than six years
Stasha then hailed Desler's flagship, and the Supreme Leader urged her to evacuate. She replied that she was Iscandar's guardian, meaning that she could not leave the planet just as the Garmillans couldn't leave theirs. As the battle took a turn for the worse, an Earth fleet led by Yamato entered Iscandar's atmosphere, and Yurisha happily informed her sister. Stasha looked away and contemplated Yamato, the Earth warship sharing the same sin as Iscandar. She turned to the pod holding Sasha and asked her daughter if she had been the one to call it to them.[30]
Stasha bathes in Sanctel's light
Iscandar had been warped away to the Vorzon system by the enemy, now identified as Dezariam.[29][30] The Dezarians planned to blow up the nearby planet Garmario to use its energy to warp Iscandar away once more, and the joint Garmillas-Earth forces formulated a strategy to destroy it before them to avoid that. Ditz reported the plan to Stasha and Yurisha, including the fact that they'd use the Wave-motion Gun to hit Garmario. Yurisha told Stasha that Yamato was ready to do whatever it took and provocatively asked her sister what they were going to do. Stasha opened her mouth to answer but eventually chose against it. During the operation, the Dezariam commander moved Iscandar into the danger zone to use it as a shield. Yurisha contacted the commanders of the Earth fleet on Stasha's behalf and asked them to shoot a specific point on Iscandar's surface. This would cause a massive burst of energy from the Sanctel, which would push Iscandar out of the danger zone. Despite a wave-motion shield being raised to protect the capital and refugees, the energy released sent a shock wave that washed over the city. Stasha stood on her palace's balcony, bathing in the shockwave and light released by the Sanctel, despite Yurisha's attempts to get her to cover. Garmario was successfully destroyed,[31] but the Dezarian forces continued to tow Iscandar away.[32]
While observing the situation, Yurisha commented to Stasha that it appeared as if the Ground fleet was waiting for someone. She concluded that Desler wouldn't be satisfied with just rescuing his people and would attempt to save them as well. Much to Stasha's surprise, she stated with disgust that it was the way the Iscandarians had cultivated the Garmillans. Once again she tried to reply but stopped before saying anything.[32]
Stasha brokers a truce with Dezariam
At the height of the next battle, Dezarium's flagship threatened to shoot down the Iscandarian capital from orbit with a superweapon. Stasha could only stand and watch, but she smiled in relief when she saw Yamato lead Desler's flagship and another carrier to protect the city using their wave-motion shields. However, the enemy began charging the weapon again soon after. This prompted Stasha to intervene, projecting a giant hologram outside her palace and calling for a ceasefire. She informed the Dezarians she'd give them what they wanted and ask the Garmillan and Earthling commanders to leave the field, her only condition being she'd be granted some time. The enemy commander asked what would happen if they refused, and she simply replied they would not get what they wanted.[32]
As the enemy weapon powered down, Stasha turned to the commanders of the joint forces, requesting their presence at her palace and declaring that it was time to reveal the truth about the Garmillans' blue blood.[32]
The secrets of the Sanctel[]
Yurisha once again tried to convince Stasha to open the Sanctel to the Garmillas. She asked Stasha if she had ever considered reopening the vault and abandoning her futile efforts for salvation. She believed that humans could end all conflicts and achieve the same state as the Archelians by accessing the vault. However, Stasha rebuked her, stating that Yurisha had spent too little time outside the vault to understand what eternity meant for humans. Stasha told Yurisha that with time, she would come to realize that eternal life would not bring salvation to humans, and that eternity and happiness could not coexist.[10]
Stasha leads Kodai and Desler toward the Sanctel
Stasha met Desler and Susumu Kodai outside her palace and led them to its basement, where the entrance to the Sanctel was located. She asked them if they were familiar with the Archelias civilization, the ancestors of all humans in the cosmos. She explained that the Iscandarians were the first human species to develop and compared them to a greedy and selfish firstborn, always seeking knowledge and improvement. Stasha then transformed into Klaus Keyman, Desler's deceased nephew and a former comrade of Kodai's. She continued by stating that the Iscandarians realized that they needed to transcend all universal laws to achieve the status of the Archelians, including leaving behind their physical bodies. She also explained to the confused Kodai that she took on the form of someone they both knew to reveal the truth.[10]
Stasha, in the shape of Klaus Keyman, guides Desler and Kodai through the ritual to enter the Sanctel
As they arrived at the entrance to the Sanctel, Stasha explained that they would first need to undergo a ritual. The Iscandarians had undergone a process similar to the ascension of the Terezartians into Teresa. However, while they had lost their individuality and the ability to interact with the physical realm, the Iscandarians had managed to preserve their memories. This process was usually irreversible, but to Desler and Kodai, it would only appear as if they had dreamed. As the vault's light engulfed them, she showed the two the crystals containing the memories of all civilizations that had been put inside the vault, including Iscandar. Through visions of Mamoru and Desler's uncle Erich, she explained how the Sanctel worked to the two visitors and the atrocities that Iscandar had committed to crystallize as many civilizations as possible inside of it. She also revealed to them the origins of the Garmillans, and how they had been manipulated by the Iscandarians to serve as their slaves.[10]
Desler holds Stasha at gunpoint after discovering the truth about his people
Returning to reality, the shocked Desler pulled his gun against the Queen, and she asked if, after knowing everything, he still wished to save her. The Leader was disgusted by the actions her people had committed, and Stasha could only reply that the Iscandarians had closed the Sanctel down a long time ago. However, she specified they had only done so because they had been so inebriated by their eternal reliving of the past that they had lost any interest in the outside world. She stated that she tried to redefine Iscandarism, the way of her people, to a more peaceful philosophy, and that she tried to establish better relations with Garmillas, but that they had started an intergalactic invasion to secure a new homeworld and had gone down the same path the Iscandarians had followed before them. Desler concluded by saying that had been the reason why she had extended help toward the Earth and leaked to them Garmann's location. He angrily asked her why she had told him to grow up quickly when he was just a child, questioning if she had always wanted to tell him the truth or if she was just looking for someone to kill her. He stated that her death wouldn't be enough to atone for the Iscandarians' crimes, but Stasha meekly replied that none of her actions were for redemption. She stated that she had only saved the Earth and told them about Galman to save herself. She undertook those actions to ease the pain of her eternal life and asked Desler if he wasn't doing the same by trying to rescue her to ease the pain of losing planet Garmillas. She concluded that he too wouldn't atone for his sins by doing so and that they only needed each other to console themselves. Desler walked away, leaving Kodai behind.[10]
She told him that his brother had taught her that living meant constantly being subjected to change, meaning that those static memories stuck inside the Sanctel were no different than being dead. Kodai believed that Dezariam was after the Sanctel and the knowledge it contained. Stasha bowed her head and stated that the systems that made up the vault were some of the most advanced wave-motion energy technology in existence and that they could easily be turned into dreadful weapons, meaning they couldn't let the enemy get their hands on it no matter what.[10]
Yurisha and Stasha hug as they prepare to destroy their world
After Kodai left, Stasha contacted the Dezariam commander again, stating she'd surrender Iscandar if they let the Earth-Garmillas fleet leave unharmed, which he agreed to. However, she had no intention of actually giving them her planet and joined Yurisha on the capital's docks to prepare to self-destruct it. She explained to her sister her belief that life was only truly alive because it could end and told her that was her reasoning for not recreating their sister Sasha from the Sanctel when she had the chance. She asked Yurisha for forgivness, saying she probably didn't understand what she meant given she had only been taken out of the Sanctel very hastily and recently. Visibly upset, Yurisha agreed that she couldn't understand her, but leaping towards her, she asked to be hugged. Stasha reciprocated the hug as Yurisha began crying on her shoulder.[10]
Keeping Yurisha close, Stasha pressed on a gem on her garment, materializing the button that would activate the self-destruct mechanism. However, before she could press it, Desler turned his carrier around and attacked the Dezarian flagship in a last-ditch attempt to stop Stasha from killing herself.[10]
Unpredictable life and death[]
Stasha reached out for the skies and muttered Desler's name under her breath, but couldn't do anything to stop him. Suddenly, Yurisha recieved a transmission from the Earth fleet, which was planning a rescue operation of the two sisters, much to Stasha's surprise.[33]
Kodai and Domon talk to Stasha to get her to leave
They went to the palace's basement, where a Earth dimensional submarine emerged. Stasha was approached by Kodai, who stated that since she had loved his brother, she was now part of his family, and he didn't want to lose any more relatives. His words moved her, but she remained hesitant. One of his subordinates, Warrant Officer Ryusuke Domon, stepped in and told her Desler would not withdraw until she was safe. He also told her that humans did foolish things all the time, and that if she was human she should act that way too. Her pondering was interrupted by Yurisha, who was carrying the capsule holding Sasha in her arms. She asked her to go, stating that they too were alive and that, even if it would be for just a moment, she wanted to live a free, unpredictable life.[33]
Finally convinced, Stasha stepped into the dimensional submarine with her sister, daughter and the Earthlings, where she had her vitals taken. Kodai expressed his happiness regarding their decision, but Stasha stated that she would still have to destroy Iscandar, something which Kodai understood would cause her and her sister to die. Despite this, Kodai contacted Desler to inform him of their rescue, and handed Stasha his portable radio. She simply muttered Desler's name, but it was enough for him to retreat.[33]
Stasha hugs Desler as she disappears
After they reemerged from subspace, Stasha activated Iscandar's self-destruct mechanism, and the planet took down the remaining Dezarian forces with its explosion. The submarine landed on Desler's flagship and Stasha met with the Leader in the ship's hangar. She gently placed her hand on his cheek and commented that his eyes had always been fixed on her. She hugged him as her body began to disappear due to Sanctel's destruction, telling him she'd never forget and thanking him before completely evaporating in a cloud of small lights.[33]
Legacy[]
As Kodai put it soon after, seeing Stasha one last time healed Desler's soul. Desler himself later stated that it had been enough to make him want to live on the rest of his life. Stasha and Mamoru's daughter Sasha took human shape soon after her mother's death, and was put in the cares of Susumu Kodai and his fiancée.[33]
Appearance[]
Stasha had the appearance of a young blonde haired woman
Stasha Iscandar was an Iscandarian woman who, due to her connection with the Sanctel, maintained the same youthful appearance for many years.[10] Like all other known Iscandarians, she had extremely long, pale blonde hair, as well as golden eyes and long eyelashes.[9]
She wore an elaborate white Iscandarian dress, the top featured a deep V-neck design that extended to the waist, adorned with intricate detailing around the neckline and chest area. The dress had long, wide, and flared sleeves that draped significantly, which were separated from the collar, and exposed her back. The gown flowed down to the floor, and had a blue-ish hue in its bottom section. Jewels hung from the edges of the sleeves and pink gemstones decorated the chest area.[9]
Personality[]
Stasha seeks comfort and wisdom from the consciousness of Mamoru Kodai.
Stasha Iscandar spent her life grappling with the burden of immortality, which she deeply despised. Over time, she came to realize that humans could only truly embrace their humanity through change and mortality. Her lover, Mamoru Kodai, played a significant role in this realization. Stasha also felt the weight of solitude that came with her life on Iscandar.[10]
Stasha expresses her creed of bringing salvation to all in an Hologram Letter meant for Yurisha
Rejecting Iscandar's violent history,[20] Stasha strongly believed in the value of all life forms.[13] During her reign, she endeavored to protect and bring salvation to life[8][10][13] with varying degrees of success.[13] She admitted that her desire to save all intelligent life was not to atone for her people's past but to ease her own pain as she was forced to live forever.[10] Determined to prevent anyone from following in the Iscandarian civilization's footsteps, she opposed all militarized uses of wave-motion energy, considering such inventions to be pure madness.[23] These ideals almost led her to condemn the entire Earthling race to extinction out of fear that they could create another such empire once she learned about their Wave-motion Gun.[20]
Despite her strong commitment to her ideals, Stasha could be indecisive. When faced with dilemmas concerning her principles[20] or confronted about Iscandar's past atrocities,[32] she often remained silent and needed external action, often from her younger sister Yurisha, to ultimately make a decision.[20][31][32] She could also be isolated and secretive. She did not inform Susumu Kodai of her pregnancy with his older brother and told no one among the Yamato crew about Mamoru Kodai's consciousness embedded in the Cosmo Reverse System.[20] She also never revealed Sasha's existence publicly, nor did she share her reasoning about keeping her in a capsule or about her choosing not to bring their deceased sister Sasha back to life with Yurisha, at least not until their very last moments.[10][12][29][31][32][33]
A painting of Stasha and Desler, highlighting their collaboration. Two copies existed, one at Baleras Tower and one at Crystal Palace
Among the people who influenced Stasha the most over her long life was the Earthling Mamoru Kodai. Though they only knew each other briefly, they fell in love and conceived a daughter, Sasha. They learned from each other, with Stasha discovering the true beauty of humanity's ephemerality,[10] and Kodai learning from their relationship that his people could find a way to live in peace with aliens.[20] Another important connection for Stasha was with Supreme Leader Abelt Desler. She first met him when he was just a child,[12] and always saw in Desler someone who could console her.[10] She collaborated with him in her attempts to build better, more equal relationships between Garmillas and Iscandar.[10][20] She was profoundly saddened when he turned into a ruthless dictator in an attempt to save his people.[20] She knew of his love for her, and although she didn't reciprocate his feelings, she still felt affection for him.[10][20][23] Stasha also deeply cared about her sisters, Sasha and Yurisha.[8][10][13][20]
Behind the scenes[]
Leiji Matsumoto cited Takako Kusumoto as the inspiration for Stasha's counterpart in the original series.[34] Stasha's new design for Space Battleship Yamato 2199 was handled by Nobutero Yuki.[35] Stasha Iscandar is portrayed by Kikuko Inoue in Japanese and by Monica Rial in English.
Stasha was supposed to make an appearance in Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark, but the scene was cut due to screening time and production time.[36]
Stasha's name is spelled "Starsha" in the english version of Space Battleship Yamato 2199, and this spelling was also used for her Figuarts ZERO figure at Tamashii Nations 2014. The html link to her entry on the official Space Battleship Yamato 2199 website spells her name "Starsya".[9] The correct spelling "Stasha" is used in the English subtitles for The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202.[37]
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- Her title is also rendered as" Queen of Planet Iscandar".[9]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Toward a Sea of Stars"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Iscandar, the Dying Planet of Sorrow"
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 "The Distant Promised Land"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Trajectory of YAMATO official 2024 calendar
- ↑ "Hello Sasha"
- ↑ The official spelling of Stasha's name is confirmed in the title of Space Battleship Yamato 2205: A New Joruney Closing Chapter -STASHA-
- ↑ The spelling "Iscandar" is seen on screen in Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark. However, the alternative spelling Iskandar is also seen on screen in "Save Iscandar! Rebellion of the Young Heroes!!". The spelling "Iscandar" is used as Yurisha's surname in her Yamato Girls Collection bandai figure
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Messenger of Iscandar"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Official Space Battleship Yamato 2199 website Character entry for Stasha Iscandar
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 "Iscandar, the Dying Planet of Sorrow"
- ↑ The flashbacks shown in "O Teresa, Cry for Dessler!" are dated to 2174. The flashback scene in "Galactic War is About to Begin! Assemble the Yamato Fleet!" shows Desler with the same design, meaning little time had passed between the two events.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Galactic War is About to Begin! Assemble the Yamato Fleet!"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 "A Choice for the Future"
- ↑ The Hidden Fate of Garmillas from the Yamato 2202 Chapter 5 theatrical program book
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "O Teresa, Cry for Dessler!"
- ↑ "A World I Once Saw"
- ↑ "They're Coming!"
- ↑ Day count at the end of "A World I Once Saw"
- ↑ "What Lies Beyond"
- ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 "Memories of the Blue Planet"
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202
- ↑ "The Planet That We Head For"
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "One Man's War"
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark
- ↑ Official Space Battleship Yamato 2199 website Character entry for Merda Ditz
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Earth, Yamato is..."
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2205 Complete Works literary materials pp 138-139
- ↑ "Galactic War is About to Begin! Assemble the Yamato Fleet!"
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "The Last Day of Garmillas"
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Save Iscandar! Rebellion of the Young Heroes!!"
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Emergency Order! Yamato, Shoot Iscandar!!"
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 "Immigrant Fleet Rescue Operation. Go Beyond the Dimensional Wall!"
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 "Hello Sasha"
- ↑ Leiji Matsumoto: How to draw zero-dimensional manga p. 27.
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Model Sheet Design Collection GARMILLAS p.194
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 COMPLETE WORKS Complete Record Collection - Script Collection p. 266.
- ↑ The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202
Japanese language information[]
スターシャ・イスカンダル Sutāsha Isukandaru