Editing Judy Ivans

{{character
|image=Ironsides_Portrait.png
|titles=Admiral of the Fleet of the [[DDF]] <small>(formerly)</small>,{{book ref|Starsight|4}} Callsign: Ironsides
|profession={{cat tag|DDF pilots}}
|groups=[[DDF]]
|world=Detritus
|universe=[[Cytoverse]]
|first appeared=[[Skyward]]
}}
{{quote
|I'm not sure I'd wish this command on [the pilots I used to fly with]. Not even the ones I hated.
|Admiral Judy "Ironsides" Ivans on her position as the head of the [[DDF]]{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}}
}}
'''Judy Ivans''' (Callsign: '''Ironsides''') is the Admiral of the Fleet of the [[Defiant Defense Force]] until after the [[Battle of Alta Second]].{{book ref|Skyward|5}}{{book ref|Starsight|4}} Over time, the number of [[acclivity ring]]s and pilots available to the DDF has dwindled, leaving her increasingly desperate to fend off the [[KRELL]]. As a result, she approves a desperate mission to retrieve half of a [[C-137-KJM orbital shipyard]] with hundreds of acclivity rings.{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} That plan nearly resulted in the KRELL destroying [[Alta Base]] and [[Igneous Cavern]];{{book ref|Skyward|49}} that near-defeat may have been a factor in her "reluctant" retirement.{{book ref|Starsight|4}} Prior to becoming an admiral, she fought in the [[Battle of Alta]], making her a [[First Citizen]]; [[Zeen Nightshade|Chaser's]] actions during the battle leave her terrified of another person with the "defect" (the brain condition that grants access to [[cytonics|cytonic]] abilities) becoming a pilot and she does everything in her power to prevent that from happening.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}}

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Ironsides by Jill Andersen.jpg|side=right|width=250px}}

{{quote
|[Until] the '''very last Defiant''' heaves their '''very last breath''', we hold this base.
|Admiral Ivans to Cobb on the losses she is willing to take to defend Alta Base{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}}
}}
Admiral Ivans is "a tall older woman" with silver hair that comes down about to her chin. As commander of the DDF, she wears a white admiral's uniform.{{book ref|Skyward|5}}

Once it becomes necessary, Ivans isn't one to back down from a fight,{{book ref|Skyward|prologue}} but she is often cautious about committing her pilots to battle for fear of sending them into a trap.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} She is self-aware and able to recognize her own shortcomings, such as her trouble committing to an engagement and decreased reaction time.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} According to Cobb, she is surprised whenever someone defies her,{{book ref|Skyward|6}} though she says most of the people who once did are now dead and is actually pleased that Cobb is still around to defy her.{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}} She regrets all of the pilots who have been killed while following her battle orders, but knows that there is only so much she can do and that letting her guilt weigh her down is not productive. Nevertheless, she makes sure to read the casualty reports from, and watch the holos of, every battle, listen to any audio from a pilot's last moments, and hand-write a letter to the family of any pilots who were killed.{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}}{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} She is known for being "stern, but fair."{{book ref|Skyward|5}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==
=== Pilot ===
Ivans was a skilled pilot, who was capable of tailing a pilot as skilled as Chaser, and flightleader of Hope Flight.{{book ref|Skyward|39}} At some point after the Battle of Alta, however, she realized she was getting too old to fly in battle and entered the DDF's admiralty.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}}

=== Knowledge of the Defect ===
Many of the most important families on [[Detritus]] trace their lineage back to those who mutinied on the [[Defiant]], and so do everything they can to keep knowledge of the mutiny and defect contained.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}}{{book ref|Skyward|44}} Ivans, however, is at least aware of the mutiny and believes it was caused by the defect, though she herself admits that the whole story isn't "clear" to her.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} Initially, she believed that the defect should not keep people from becoming pilots and "stuck her neck out" by arguing that Chaser should be allowed in the DDF.{{book ref|Skyward|48}} Ever since he attacked her flight in the Battle of Alta, however, she has been absolutely terrified of another pilot with the defect joining the DDF. This often puts her in conflict with many prominent [[National Assembly Leader]]s and the head of Alta Base's medical staff, [[Thior|Dr. Thior]], all of whom deny the existence of the defect.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} In order to protect the DDF, she does everything she can to make life so miserable for Spensa that she drops out{{book ref|Skyward|29}} and has her medical staff set up sensors in Spensa's helmet to record brain activity and watch for signs of the defect.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} After she discharges Spensa from the DDF for ejecting during a battle, Ivans feels that Spensa's tenure in the DDF has worked out in the best way possible, as Ivans has succeeded at keeping her from flying and now has data to monitor all new cadets for signs of the defect.{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}}

== History ==
=== Early Days of the DDF and the Battle of Alta ===
Prior to the Battle of Alta, Ivans was the flightleader of Hope Flight, which included Cobb and Chaser,{{book ref|Skyward|39}}{{book ref|Skyward|43}} and argued that Chaser should be allowed in the DDF despite having the defect.{{book ref|Skyward|48}} As the KRELL descended prior to the Battle of Alta, she was outspoken in urging the DDF to fight, despite the high number of incoming KRELL.{{book ref|Skyward|prologue}} In the battle, she gave Chaser permission to fly up to space after he promised that he could control the defect. When he returned and began attacking DDF pilots, she gave the order to shoot him down and tailed him with Cobb,{{book ref|Skyward|39}} though her name was redacted in the official report.{{book ref|Skyward|21}} After the battle, to protect his family, she ensured that the official report said Chaser turned coward and tried to fly away rather than that he was a traitor.{{book ref|Skyward|54}}

=== Command of the DDF ===
{{quote
|She saw, in [the pilots'] deaths, her own faults. She hadn't been willing to truly '''commit'''.
|Ivans' reflections on why she is losing the war{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}}
}}
Some time after the Battle of Alta, she realized that she was getting too old to fly and became Admiral of the DDF,{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} though she seems to believe she only has her command because anyone else who could have taken it is now dead.{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}} As a result of her dual status as both a First Citizen and commander of the DDF, there are "hundreds of paintings and statues" of her and Spensa considers her "basically the most important person in the world."{{book ref|Skyward|5}}

As a military commander, Ivans is cautious and reluctant to commit the entirety of her forces, especially as the number of pilots and acclivity rings the DDF has is steadily diminishing.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} In order to have enough pilots to fend off the KRELL incursions, she has lowered the age of testing to become a cadet and begun to send up less experienced cadets.{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}}

After seeing Chaser turn on her flight members, she is terrified of someone else with the defect joining the DDF and, as a result, does everything in her power to prevent Spensa from becoming a pilot.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} When Spensa attempts to take the pilot's test, Ivans specifically orders that she is not to be admitted,{{book ref|Skyward|2}} personally supervises the administration of the test, and gives Spensa a test to be a sanitation worker, not a pilot.{{book ref|Skyward|5}} Later, Cobb forces her to allow Spensa to be enrolled in his class, but she forbids Spensa from using any of the Flight School facilities in an effort to make Spensa's life so difficult that she drops out.{{book ref|Skyward|11}}{{book ref|Skyward|29}}

As her number of pilots and acclivity rings dwindles, she eventually decides to make a bold strike for a shipyard in a decaying orbit.{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} When a lifeburster enters the battle, she orders her pilots to keep it away from the shipyard, even if that sends it towards [[Alta Base]]. When it does, in fact, make for Alta, she decides to order a flight of just scouts, including [[Cloak]] and [[FM]], to engage it. The scouts successfully shoot it down, but, when the bomb lands, it takes out some of the DDF's AA guns.{{book ref|Skyward|48}} At that juncture, a second KRELL fleet, with another lifeburster, enters and slips through the hole in the defenses, leading her to realize that she has been outmaneuvered and possibly "doomed all of humankind."{{book ref|Skyward|49}} As the lifeburster nears the "death zone," past which its detonation will take out Alta Base, she accepts her death and, hoping to save [[Igneous Cavern|Igneous]], authorizes Spensa and the other pilots to shoot it down regardless.{{book ref|Skyward|50}}{{book ref|Skyward|52}}

After the KRELL are defeated and Spensa manages to save Alta, she decides to pardon Chaser and tries to convince Spensa not fly to space, but to no avail.{{book ref|Skyward|54}} When Spensa returns, she sees little value in the information that M-Bot hacked from the KRELL, as it does not change the fact the DDF is still facing down a superior force.{{book ref|Skyward|epilogue}} Sometime after the battle, she reluctantly retires as Admiral of the Fleet of the DDF and Cobb, equally as reluctant, steps up to fill the position.{{book ref|Starsight|4}}

== Relationships ==
=== Spensa ===
{{quote
|The defect.
|Admiral Ivans' whispered reaction when Spensa arrives in the [[Battle of Alta Second]]{{book ref|Skyward|49}}
}}
Ivans is impressed with Spensa's dedication and ability as a pilot, but is too scared of the defect to want her in the DDF.{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} Spensa, in turn, is initially angry with Ivans for trying to keep her out of the DDF, but, after finding out the truth of the Battle of Alta, realizes how much Ivans has done for her{{book ref|Skyward|40}} and comes to respect Ivans as a "warrior”.{{book ref|Skyward|30}}

=== Chaser ===
{{quote
|Go. I trust you.
|Then-flightleader Ivans to Chaser when he asks to try to fly to space during the Battle of Alta{{book ref|Skyward|43}}
}}
Ivans was a fierce defender of Chaser and always argued that he should be allowed to fly, despite the defect.{{book ref|Skyward|48}} Even after the Battle of Alta, she ensured that official records of the battle said that he turned coward and tried to flee, rather than that he started attacking his flightmates.{{book ref|Skyward|40}} Prior to the Battle of Alta, as his flightleader, Ivans sometimes had to remind him to stick to his wingmate rather than break off to engage the KRELL; their relationship reminds Spensa of that between herself and Jorgen.{{book ref|Skyward|43}}{{book ref|Skyward|44}}

=== Cobb ===
{{quote
|It was good she still had someone to defy her. Most everyone else who had done that was dead now.
|Ivans' reflections on her relationship with Cobb{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}}
}}
Prior to the Battle of Alta, Ivans was Cobb's flightleader, and the banter between the two of them reminded Spensa of her own relationship with Jorgen.{{book ref|Skyward|43}} The two worked together to bring down Chaser after he started attacking their flight and are likely the only two who know the truth of what he did in the Battle of Alta.{{book ref|Skyward|39}} Cobb is the only surviving pilot from Ivans' own time as a pilot, and they remain respectful towards each other, as evidenced by Cobb waiting for her to finish a letter to the family of a dead pilot before starting an argument with her.{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}} However, they also disagree sharply about Ivans' policies for the DDF, which she believes are necessary to defend Alta Base and Igneous, but he feels get pilots and cadets killed needlessly and likens to "firing on full auto while simultaneously stealing ammunition from the stores." She is also shocked that he is willing to let Spensa fly after seeing what the defect did to Chaser.{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}} After Cobb takes over as Admiral of the Fleet, he begins to better understand her complaints about being in charge and how those in command rarely understand what is truly going on.{{book ref|Starsight|5}}

=== Rikolfr and DDF Staff ===
[[Rikolfr]] is Ivans' aide-de-camp. He keeps track of everything she needs to do; brings reports to, and reviews their content with, her; helps her prepare to deal with various situations, such as a meeting with National Assembly Leaders; and carries orders from her to other DDF staff.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}}{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} Considering her messy office,{{book ref|Skyward|i|1}} Rikolfr's organizational skills are likely a great asset to Ivans, and she trusts him enough to include him in meetings with National Assembly Leaders.{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} After Ivans' retirement, Rikolfr remains on the DDF's staff, now serving Cobb, the new Admiral of the Fleet.{{book ref|Starsight|3}}

Ivans seems to interact with the rest of the DDF's staff mostly through Rikolfr, so her relationship to the rest of the staff is somewhat unclear. Notably, however, she disagrees sharply with the head of Alta Base's medical division, Dr. Thior, as the doctor is adamant that the defect does not exist.{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}}

=== National Assembly ===
{{spoilers|sf2}}
Ivans is continually frustrated by the [[National Assembly Leader]]s denial of the existence of the defect,{{book ref|Skyward|i|2}} removal of their children&mdash;some of the top pilots&mdash;from the DDF,{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} and refusal to send up their private ships to aid the DDF during KRELL attacks.{{book ref|Skyward|49}} The National Assembly, in turn, is frustrated by the falling number of available ships and high pilot casualty rates during her tenure as Admiral of the Fleet,{{book ref|Skyward|i|3}} though they are also afraid to take power from her and make decisions themselves, as they prefer to be able to blame her for anything that goes wrong rather than risk that blame falling on themselves.{{book ref|sf2|6}}

== Notes ==
{{holder
|title=Admiral of the Fleet of the<br />[[Defiant Defense Force]]
|prev=''unknown''
|this=''unknown'' to {{Detritus date|83}}
|next=[[Matthew Cobb]]
}}
<!--
Search results:
Ivans: 5,33,40,49,52, I-1, I-2, I-3 (Skyward)
Ironsides: prologue, 2,4,5,6,9,11,17-19,21,22,24,27,29,30,35,39,40,43,44,47-52,54, epilogue (Skyward); 4,5,15 (Starsight); 6 (ReDawn)
-->
<references />
{{complete}}
{{Skyward}}
[[category: viewpoint characters]]