Susan Ivanova
From The Great Machine
| Gender: | Female |
| Species: | Human |
| Date of Birth: | |
| Place of Birth: | St. Petersburg (USSR: Leningrad), Russian Consortium, Earth |
| Occupation(s): | Earthforce Career: 2247-2281
2258-2261: First Officer, Babylon 5 |
| Known Relatives: | First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Sergei Borisovich Ivanov, 1953- [1] Andrei Ivanov, Father, dec. 2258 |
| Marital Status: | Never Married |
| Played by: | Claudia Christian |
- For other instances of the name "Ivanov(a)", see Ivanov(a) (disambiguation)
Susan Ivanova served as First Officer of Babylon 5, having been assigned to replace Lt. Commander Laurel Takashima in 2258. (S1E01, Midnight on the Firing Line)
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[edit] Overview
A Russian Jew, who has lost all of her blood relatives to various tragedies, and has never done well in romances, Susan is an odd combination of perky, paranoid, hopeful and fatalistic.
The daughter of deceased Russian academic Andrei Ivanov and Sofie Ivanova, at age 10 (debatable) Susan lost her mother to suicide after several years of being forced to take psi-suppressant sleepers in lieu of joining Psi Corps or being imprisoned.
Extremely self-conscious, and with a few confidence problems, against a withering backdrop of perceived expectations, Susan feels the need to, almost literally, carry the station on her back. She tries to be strong for everyone else, and, just when that veneer might seem ready to fracture, she slings unexpected wisecracks, witticisms, and threats that bring her audience up short, confuse them, and momentarily distract them from any concern they might willingly show for her.
She has wit and temper, and uses them both -- usually without moderation or apparent forethought. Don't be misled, though. She knows exactly who she is; knows exactly what she's about; knows everything that happens on the station; and quite unknowingly commands the willing and able respect of nearly everyone she works with.
[edit] Quotes
Susan's catch phrases are her trademark: they give us pause, call us up short, or give us the emotional side of whatever dilemma she faces. She is also the author of the Babylon 5 Mantra.
- "We're Russian: we understand these things..."
- "Is this a multiple-choice question? I have some thoughts..."
- "Trust Ivanova. Trust yourself. Anybody else? Shoot 'em!"
- "...If he weren't my commanding officer, I swear I'd shoot him dead."
[edit] Career History
- 2247 - Joined Earthforce (S3E12, Sic Transit Vir)
- 22?? - served under John Sheridan on Io
- Early 2259 - Promoted from Lt. Commander to Commander by Sheridan (S2E03, The Geometry of Shadows)
- Late 2261 - Promoted to Captain and assigned the one-year shakedown cruise of the new Warlock Class starship (S4E21, Rising Star)
- 22??-2281 - Served as General on the Earthforce Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- 2281 - Left Earthforce to become the leader of the Anla'shok (S5E22, Sleeping in Light)
[edit] Trivia
- Susan's childhood nickname was dushenka moya - "little soul" - given to her by her father, Andrei.
