Zaltzi

Zaltzi
Zaltzi males and a female, serving in the Garmillas military
Designation	Sentient
Skin color	From lighter to dark tones
Hair color	Brown Black Blonde Reddish-brown Purple Grey (aged)
Eye color	Brown Green Grey Purple
Homeworld	Zaltz

The Zaltzi are a human species originating from the destroyed planet-state Zaltz, located within the borders of the Greater Garmillan Empire. After the fall of their home world to the Garmillans, they were integrated in the empire as second-class citizens.

Biology

The Zaltzi are a human species nearly identical to Earthlings upon casual observation, with bipedal anatomy, eye and hair colors and skin tones within the range of Earthling norms, and red blood. The majority of Zaltzi casually resemble Earth Caucasian peoples, but some have been observed as having a darker complexion, such as Wol Jarletora, who resembled an Earth Afro-American, and Saleluya Larleta not resembling any Earth ethnicity due to having extremely pointed, elf-like ears. The Zaltzi's overall similarity to Earth humans has even allowed members of one species to pass for the other on at least two occasions. A Zaltzi military team was assembled to infiltrate the Earthling battleship Yamato dressed in UNCN uniforms; the deception was discovered only by the fact that the team members were unfamiliar to a vigilant security officer. Shortly thereafter, a Yamato crewmember, Sukeji Yabu, was caught in a riot at a Garmillas prison, mistaken for Zaltzi, and encouraged to join the prisoners in their uprising. Months later, Yabu was serving aboard the Garmillas UX-01, with his shipmates unaware of their "Zaltzi" comrade's true Earthling identity.

Culture and Society

A Zaltzi child, Hilude Schulz.

The planet Zaltz and its people were annexed into the Garmillas Empire at some point in the past, and remain a part of the empire in 2199. The overwhelming majority of Zaltzi are classified as second-class citizens of the empire, although a few are elevated to first-class status as a reward for distinguished service. Zaltzi encounter a range of attitudes from Garmillas people. While some work in an evenhanded way with the Zaltzi and build good relationships with them, others can be openly racist and are verbally and even physically abusive, unconcerned about retaliation from the Zaltzi themselves and with little risk of being challenged by other Garmillas.

Many Zaltzi serve in the imperial military as soldiers and as mid-level officers, but are often given the farthest frontier assignments, such as the campaign against Earth and the other planets of the solar system, or less prestigious placements such as local defense of the planet Garmillas. Zaltzi and Garmillas occasionally serve together in mixed crews on ships.

Despite these difficulties and a sense of distinct Zaltzi identity, they tend to remain loyal members of Garmillas society. The Garmillas language is commonly used, and a number of them (such as the family of Colonel Valcke Schulz) live in the capital city of Baleras on Garmillas itself.

The Zaltzi people have at least one native language, known as Zaltz language.

Notable Individuals

• Valcke Schulz
• Hilude Schulz
• Guelf Ganz
• Wol Jarletora
• Saleluya Larleta
• Wals Lang
• Norren Oshetto
• Gelt Berger
• Barsch Meck
• Beris Reitse
• Varna Sukelji
• Oddo Sukelji
• Liza Sukelji
• Reza Sukelji

Behind the scenes

In the original Space Battleship Yamato, all Gamilas characters were designed with Caucasian complexions, but were abruptly changed in "Resolution! Break Through the Gamilas' Absolute Defense Line!" to blue skin for a more alien appearance. The creators of Space Battleship Yamato 2199 maintained and rationalized this difference by making some of the existing characters--Schulz, Ganz, and others assigned to Earth's solar system--into members of a different species. The change also reflected the creators' desire to depict the Garmillas Empire as a true interstellar power that had conquered and absorbed other peoples into their society.

Japanese language information

ザルツ人 Zarutsu-jin