Lise Hohenstein

1st Lieutenant Lise Hohenstein is an antagonist in the anime, visual novel and light novel Schwarzesmarken. She is a TSF (Tactical Surface Fighter) pilot who works as a spy for the corrupt Stasi (Ministry of State Security of East Germany) posing as a new soldier dispatched to the anti-STASI 666th TSF Squadron, which had to replace their injured number 09, Pham Thi Lan.

Despite her (forced) allegiance to the Stasi she has a strong bond with her adoptive brother Theodor Eberbach, who is a loyal member of the squadron. Theodor had previously thought Lise was killed by the Stasi when it chased their family and captured her; he was shocked upon the discovery that she was alive. Lise serves the squadron in some missions against the BETA (dangerous hostile insect-like alien invaders), but eventually reveals her true intentions. Her dark past of abuse by the Stasi conflicts with her desire to protect her brother at any cost.

Biography
As a child, Lise lived in East Germany with her parents Thomas and Marlene. One day, the family adopt a red-haired boy named Theodor, with whom Lise develops a very close relationship. Over the years, as Stasi becomes more authoritarian, Thomas becomes targeted for his alleged anti-State thoughts, what also makes Lise ostracized by her indoctrinated school mates. This leads Thomas to decide on escaping East Germany. In 1980, the family attempt to cross the Berlin Wall, but are captured in action.

As a captive, Lise is brutally tortured and raped, but refuses to say anything that would indict her parents or brother, valuing her family's life over her own. While her parents are eventually sentenced to death, Stasi official Heinz Axmann offers her the opportunity to spare her brother's life if she pledges loyalty to the Stasi, which she agrees as she has no other choice.

As a Stasi member, Lise has to fight the BETA and is forced to act as a Swallow (a spy that sleeps with men to get intelligence). She is also frequently used by Axmann as his sex slave. This intense physical and psychological abuse makes Lise think frequently about killing herself, but, since that would put her brother at risk under Axmann, she doesn't do it.

In one occasion in 1982, Axmann orders Lise to kill 20 fugitives, including two teenagers and an infant, to which she is reluctant. Once again, Axmann threatens to kill her and her brother if she disobeys, what forces her to perform the act. This marks a change in Lise's psyche: she realizes that the Stasi is too horrible and yet too powerful, giving up any hope of rebellion. She is driven only by the desire to protect her brother.

As Lise's TSF skills honed during her years of service, she eventually joins the prestigious Werewolf battalion. The batallion's major Beatrix Brehme offers her the opportunity to meet Theodor if she agrees to help in an internal conflict in Stasi in lieu of working to Axmann. Lise agrees, seeing a opportunity to both join her brother and escape with him and get her revenge against Axmann for the years of abuse.

In 1983, Lise is sent on a spy mission posing as a new member of the 666th. She participates on some battles against the BETA but many of the squadron suspect that she is a spy. She enjoys the company of her brother and has a sexual relation with him one night. When she finally reveals her true face, the Stasi is able to capture the squadron's members, including captain Irisdina Bernhard. Theodor and another member, Katia Waldheim, manage to escape.

To obtain information, Lise cruelly tortures the captured members of the squadron. After their escape, she engages in STF battles, this time sided with the Stasi. In a moment of discussion with Theodor during a battle, she murders squadron member Thi-Rang Pham while she attempted to comfort Lise. At one point shortly after, Theodor has the opportunity to kill her, but doesn't do so for the sentimental bond with Lise. This decision is reprehended by fellow TSF operator Suzy Dzap, who says Lise must be seen as an enemy and bonds must be forgotten in battle. After defeating Lise for the second time, Theodor has a final conversation with Lise, in which he says he loves her before shooting her dead.