Name: Gelt
Species Type: Mammalian, Primate
Homeworld: The Throneworld, The Realm
First Appearance: No Marigolds in the Promised Land
Summary:
The Gelt are an alien species that launch a brutal and unexpected invasion of Amargosa during the events of The Children of Amargosa. Humanoid in shape but distinct in physiology, the Gelt are physically imposing and heavily armored, their soldiers operating in five-man teams aboard fast, oil-burning vehicles known as battle wagons. Their weapons include energy rifles, long knives, and devastating heat rays capable of incinerating human targets and infrastructure alike.
Their faces—when visible—feature grayish skin, yellow eyes, and bright yellow or white hair, with facial features similar enough to humans to be unsettling. Some even mistake them at a distance for Orags, descendants of Neanderthals transplanted from Earth. This resemblance only intensifies the psychological toll of their violence.
The Gelt Incursion of 429 IE begins with the destruction of Amargosa’s hypergate, followed by atmospheric landings and systematic targeting of key infrastructure, food production, and population centers. Unlike many prior alien threats, the Gelt appear to want the land rather than conquest for political or ideological reasons. Their tactics suggest colonization: destroy resistance, depopulate the planet, and occupy.
The full motivation behind the Gelt invasion remains unclear in The Children of Amargosa, though it is hinted that they may be working in cooperation with human traitors—most notably Lucius Kray—who claim to act under the banner of a “citizens’ militia.” However, no formal alliance is ever confirmed on-page, and the Gelt themselves remain largely silent and anonymous throughout the first book.
As a species, the Gelt represent a previously unknown major external alien force threatening a Compact world on this scale, introducing a new era of warfare and existential threat to humanity’s frontier.
Appearances: The Children of Amargosa