Ponax was a Gelt officer of the Warrior caste,. He is introduced as Laral Farad’s pilot and trusted aide—a tall, hairless Gelt with tattoos covering his scalp.
Ponax escorts Farad from his transport to an inspection of the crater where the Gelt Colony Transport crashed—an event that killed both the Sovereign and Farad’s cousin, Laral Umish. Throughout this and subsequent scenes, Ponax serves as Farad’s confidant, advisor, and occasional critic, often pushing back with cautious logic when Farad lashes out or makes rash decisions.
He’s instrumental in relaying critical intelligence, such as:
- The loss of contact with Gelt forces in Deming.
- The resistance’s use of mechs and support from disillusioned Gelt and sapient lycanths.
- The potential Sovereign candidates, including Lattus Tishla, whose nomination triggers one of Farad’s infamous violent outbursts.
Ponax acts as a counterbalance to Farad’s impulsiveness—loyal but pragmatic. His presence in these scenes underscores the internal disarray within the Gelt occupation and hints at growing sympathy among the Gelt ranks for the Compact-aligned resistance. He is killed when Eric Yuwono shoots him and Laral Farad to escape with Davra Andraste before Riverside is destroyed.
Appearances: Storming Amargosa