Species: Laputan
Affiliation: Laputan Guardianship (Consular Service)
Status: Active (as of 429 IE)
Known For: Assisting Tishla‘s escape to Armaneya
Delda Rallis is a seasoned Laputan official, widely known for his sardonic wit, old-school diplomacy, and dangerous behind-the-scenes influence. Once a soldier in the Laputan–Gelt War of First Contact, Delda’s life took a sharp turn after a formative encounter with a young Lattus Kai—an incident that grew into a complex, lifelong bond with Kai’s widow, Tishla. His reputation as both a diplomatic trouble-shooter and a loyal friend to the former First Citizen of Hanar makes him one of the most quietly formidable figures in Compact-adjacent politics.
Connection to Lattus Kai
Delda first met Lattus Kai on the battlefield, where Kai—then a teenage Gelt combatant—stabbed him in close quarters. Years later, the two reconciled when Kai gifted Delda a blade, a powerful Gelt gesture symbolizing peace and mutual respect. The two maintained discreet contact over the years, a relationship that became pivotal after Kai’s death.
Role in Tishla’s Journey
In 429 IE, Delda assisted Tishla after her escape from Metis, recognizing her as both a political lightning rod and a personal responsibility. He helped her evade capture, transport sensitive genetic materials, and reunite with her late husband’s family. Throughout, he displayed loyalty and moral clarity, using his diplomatic protections and network to quietly undermine both Compact and Realm factions that sought to manipulate her.
Role in Suicide Gambit
By 430 IE, Delda’s position within the Laputan Guardianship had grown. Now based on Tacmar, he played an essential part in helping Tishla, JT Austin, and Suicide reach the Sovereign of the Realm after the coup on Hanar. He provided logistical support, legal cover, and the smuggling vessel Bounty. He even coordinated with a sentient AI to facilitate the mission. Though rarely front-and-center, Delda made the incursion into the Sovereign’s inner court possible—staying true to the Guardianship’s values while bending just enough law to serve justice.
Role in Jump
In Jump, Delda is revealed to be the Guardian’s Hand for Armaneya, the orbital city above Ramcat. Now a high-ranking peacekeeper with sweeping authority, he again demonstrates his deft handling of both political volatility and personal loyalty. When Lieutenant Connor Duffy and Commander Peter Lancaster uncover the existence of a functional quantum entanglement transport system—smuggled onto the station by a Gelt indenture named Shrian—Delda steps in to prevent the situation from escalating into a Realm–Compact diplomatic disaster.
He arrests Laral Raas, the last surviving member of the disgraced House of Laral, on suspicion of “being a suspicious motherfucker,” and impounds both his shuttle and Shrian’s contract, buying time for the Compact Navy to act. Delda also enforces Laputan law creatively, exploiting loopholes to protect Shrian while ensuring the technology she brought remains under neutral control.
Despite the seriousness of the crisis, Delda’s wit remains razor-sharp. He mocks Laral’s diminished status, flirts with procedural absurdity, and orchestrates a compromise that allows Duffy and Lancaster to maneuver within legal bounds. As ever, he is the steady hand in a storm of high-stakes espionage, backroom diplomacy, and interstellar power games.
Legacy
Delda Rallis continues to represent the best of the Laputan Guardianship: pragmatic, principled, and deeply loyal to those he considers family. His actions in Jump not only help prevent a second Gelt war but also enable a potentially transformative leap forward in interstellar travel—quietly reinforcing his legacy as a master of diplomacy and protector of peace.
Appearances: Tishla's Journey, Suicide Gambit, Jump