ISA Alpha Centauri

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ISA Alpha Centauri refers to the ISA located in the Alpha Centauri system on planet Vekta. They serve as the protagonist faction throughout most of the Killzone series, typically waging war against the Helghast in one way or another.

History[]

Early days[]

Established in 2133, ISA Alpha Centauri Command was one of the first ISA Commands to be created.^[1] ISA Alpha Centauri developed an inter-service rivalry with the Helghan Administration's militia, which was not directly part of the ISA or UCN/UCA chain of command. The ISA imposed strict limitations on the militia's size and equipment, and forced them to only allow all of its officers to be provided by the ISA.^[1]

First Extrasolar War[]

Main article: First Extrasolar War

At the turn of the 23rd century, ISA Alpha Centauri would see its first major conflict in the First Extrasolar War against the Helghan Administration which had seceded from the United Colonial Nations after a dispute over trade had gone poorly. Despite being outnumbered by the Helghan Administration's military, the ISA proved to be more experienced and well equipped than their Helghan counterparts.^[1] Many ISA forces were able to escape from the initial fighting and engaged in hit-and-run operations from hidden bases. After UCA forces finally reached Alpha Centauri in 2201, the ISA fought alongside the UCA and destroyed the Helghan Customs Service fleet, and arresting all of the Administration's civil servants and corporate executives.^[1]

Civil Unrest[]

After the Helghan Administration surrendered in 2202, the UCN Senate granted the ISA authority of Vekta in order to prevent future unrest in Alpha Centauri while loyal UCN colonists from Earth were sent to expand the Vektan colony—much to the native Helghan population's chagrin.^[1] More than a year after the war, Helghan-loyal colonists began a campaign of terror and intimidation against the Earth-loyal colonists. The ISA Governor General responded to the growing terrorism by strongly suppressing the Helghan population until the Helghan, in desperation, negotiated with the ISA in allowing them to resettle on planet Helghan.^[1]

The ISA accepted the Helghan's permission of resettlement and left them to their own merits, refusing to aid them in their resettlement of the inhospitable planet. Instead, the ISA enforced a blockade of planet Helghan for decades until diplomatic relations were normalized.^[1]

Intermediate Years[]

More than a century after the First Extrasolar War, the Vektan ISA High Command began ending the blockade of Helghan in 2304. During this time, several rich members in the ISA began the construction of the SD Defense Network and reducing the size of its space fleet.^[1]

At some point, Vekta experienced a smaller scale conflict limited to Vekta, known as the "First Vektan War". The details on this war are non-existent, but it is known Dirk Templar, the father of the future war hero Jan Templar, fought and died in this conflict, and Bradley Vaughton was a veteran of this war.

By 2350, the Helghan Empire began their rapid remilitarization. The ISA did not seek to expand their navy or contain Helghan, but instead to continue to rely on the orbital defense network in the face of potential Helghast aggression.^[1] Unknown to the ISA, several of their high ranking officers were secretly compromised into working with the Helghan Empire. Generals Stuart Adams and Dwight Stratson were converted into Helghast sympathizers by Scolar Visari and plotted with the Helghan Empire's planned invasion of Vekta. With the SD Platforms under a traitor's control, the Helghan Empire had an entry point into Vekta.

Second Extrasolar War[]

Main article: Second Extrasolar War

In 2357, the ISA were caught off guard when the Helghast invaded Vekta after bypassing the defense network.^[2] The ISA death toll was high, and the first line of defense, the Rapid Reaction Force was torn to pieces by the Helghast Third Army. Strategic locations such as the ISA Central Command were captured by the Helghast. The ISA under General Bradley Vaughton attempted to regain control of the defense network, but only to unwittingly allow General Adams to give control of the network to the Helghast.^[3]

Despite the horrendous losses, the ISA managed to halt the Helghast's ground campaign due to the actions of ISA soldier Jan Templar and his team, who prevented Vekta City from falling and even killing Third Army General Joseph Lente.^[4] Templar's team later sabotaged the Helghast-controlled defense network, preventing it from annihilating the UCA reinforcement fleet and killing General Adams in the process.^[5] The ISA later contended with Helghast General Armin Metrac from taking over southern Vekta. During this time, the ISA could only fight against the Helghast through targeted surgical strikes due to the loss of manpower from the Helghast's surprise attack.^[6] Metrac was eventually killed by Templar and his base of operations in southern Vekta was destroyed. General Stratson's treachery was uncovered by Templar and his comrade Rico Velasquez, which they succeeded in capturing Stratson. The ISA ultimately repelled the Helghast from Vekta in January 2358. However, the Helghast stolen ISA nuclear weapons and other high-tech weapons to Helghan.^[7]

In 2359, the ISA launched a counter-invasion of planet Helghan in Operation Archangel. The first wave of the invasion force would pave the way for Battle Group Mandrake, led by the war hero and now Colonel Jan Templar, to launch their assault on the Helghan capital of Pyrrhus in an effort to capture Scolar Visari and thereby swiftly ending the war.^[8] The counter-invasion, however, became a total failure and resulted in the near complete loss of their forces, including the life of Colonel Templar, and Visari's death at the hands of Rico Velasquez.^[9] The ISA's surviving ships were forced to retreat from Helghan while stranding their remaining ground forces on the planet.^[10]

Six months after the failed invasion, the ISA brokered a ceasefire with the Helghan high command. But unknown to them, the Helghast led by Jorhan Stahl plotted to attack Earth with irradiated Petrusite-based weapons. However, a group of ISA remnants left on Helghan, under the command of Captain Jason Narville and Tomas Sevchenko, managed to stop Stahl's plans and ended the Second Extrasolar War after accidentally causing the planet-wide devastation of Helghan in what would become known as the Terracide.^[11]

Vektan Cold War[]

Main article: Vektan Cold War

Following the Terracide, the ISA reluctantly accepted an uneasy truce with the Helghast in which they allowed Helghan's survivors to resettle on Vekta. However, the Helghast refused to integrate into Vektan society and bore a deeper grudge against the ISA for their defeat. As a result of the domestic unrest between Vektans and Helghast, Vekta was divided between the Vektan government and the nation of New Helghan, and a massive, planet-spanning barrier was constructed to separate the two civilizations apart.^[12] Following the Helghast resettlement, the ISA established the Vektan Security Agency in order to deal with the once again domestic Helghast threat.

In 2390, the fragile peace between Vekta and New Helghan was threatened by a renewed conflict when Vekta City came under a terrorist attack by the Black Hand terrorist group. The Vektan government blamed the attack on the New Helghan government and increased ISA forces along the Wall.^[13]

The ISA and VSA soon discovered Jorhan Stahl had survived the Terracide and was building a military force to invade Vekta. An ISA task force under VSA Director Thomas Sinclair traveled to Helghan and engaged Stahl's forces. The battle, however, became a costly pyrrhic victory as the task force was destroyed by Stahl's bio-tech weapon (which was created by the VSA) and Stahl himself was killed by Sinclair.^[14] The ISA covered up the cause for its massive losses by claiming the ISA casualties were caused by "friendly fire."^[15]

After Stahl's planned invasion of Vekta was foiled, war between Vekta and New Helghan nearly became reality as the Vektan government refused to stand down ISA forces and diplomatic attempts to avert war broke down.^[16] Director Sinclair became Vekta's prominent war hawk calling for war against New Helghan; however, Sinclair would never live to see this war coming into fruition as he was assassinated by an assassin during a public speech.^[17]

Branches[]

ISA Legionnaires[]

Main article: ISA Legionnaires

The Legionnaires were battle-hardened soldiers, formed from veterans such as Rico Velasquez and Jan Templar.

ISA Navy[]

Main article: ISA Navy

The ISA Navy maintains and uses all aerial and space fleet assets, including Intruder dropships, ISA VTOLs, ISA Heavy VTOLs, and ISA Cruisers.

ISA Marines[]

Main article: ISA Marines

The Marines are a shock-force for invasions, being the first troops in any invasion. Marines formed the core of Vekta's counterattack against the Helghast and saw the most combat.

ISA Police[]

Main article: ISA Police

Vektan police force.

ISA Special Forces[]

Main article: ISA Special Forces

The Special Forces are comprised of ISA Shadow Marshals, who are responsible for assassinations and sabotage, and Covert Field Operatives who gather information and intelligence.

Rapid Reaction Force[]

Main article: Rapid Reaction Force

The first line of defense against invaders or internal enemies, the RRF maintains a gendarmerie esque role; policing the colonies in peacetime, and serving as front-line troops in war.

Vektan Security Agency[]

Main article: Vektan Security Agency

The Vektan Security Agency is an intelligence agency embedded within the ISA which also provides law enforcement and internal security throughout Vekta. They also conduct reconnaissance and high-risk missions beyond The Wall (the border between New Helghan and Vekta) via their Special Forces and Shadow Marshals.

Arsenal[]

ISA Alpha Centauri has several in-house weapons manufacturing divisions. Although the is supposed to supply equipment, the Alpha Centauri branch appears to be more independent of the UCN than the other branches.

Armory[]

Image	Name	Description
	LS13	Shotgun
	LS57	Submachine Gun Calibre: 9 mm
	M3	Revolver Calibre: .357 Magnum
	M4	Revolver Successor to the M3. Calibre: .357 Magnum
	M4	Handgun Calibre: .50 AE
	M66-SD	Submachine Gun Calibre: 7.62 x 33 mm
	M80	Rocket Launcher Diameter: 84 mm missiles
	M82	Assault Rifle Calibre: 6.8x43 mm SPC
	M224-A1	Light Machine Gun Calibre: 6.8 x 43 mm
	M224-A2 Tyrant	Light Machine Gun Calibre: 7.62 mm
	M224-A3	Chain Gun Calibre: 7.62 x 51 mm
	M327	Grenade Launcher Diameter: 40 mm
	M404	Missile Launcher Diameter: 84 mm

Land Vehicles[]

Name	Role	Notes
Archer Tank	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	- Two-man armored assault vehicle capable of both anti-tank and anti-aircraft roles.
ISA AAPC	AAPC	- Amphibious
ISA Jeep	Fast Attack Vehicle	- Light all-terrain vehicle - Ideal for reconnaissance missions, hit-and-run assaults against infantry or fortifications.
Lancer	Armored Fighting Vehicle	- Equipped with 105mm rifled gun that fires APFSDS made of depleted uranium. - Has an additional 7.62 x 51mm coaxial machine gun.
HAMR IFV	Armored Fighting Vehicle	- A heavily armed combat vehicle with all-terrain capabilities.
LS209 Exoskeleton	Bipedal Weapon Platform	- All-terrain - Ideal for providing support to convoys.

Aerial Vehicles[]

Name	Role	Notes
ISA VTOL	VTOL	- Used as both a troop transport and gunship.
Intruder	Dropship	- Can transport up to 10 passengers

Sea Vehicles[]

Name	Role	Notes
ISA Hovercraft	Amphibious Vehicle	- Equipped with a machine gun turret and a rocket launcher