Tall and lanky, Khan Perigard Zalman stands almost two meters but weights only seventy-six kilograms. His eyes, intent and calculating, shine darkly from his sharply chiseled face. By traditional reckoning, Zalman is ugly, but that is of little concern to the Clan's senior Khan.

A cautious and calculating leader, Zalman has a formidable presence in Clan Councils. Formerly commander of Alpha Galaxy, he became saKhan in 3045 and fought hard for his Clan's inclusion in Operation Revival. Though disappointed that the Vipers places fifth in the Trials, he was pragmatic enough to realize that the Vipers would eventually see action in the invasion.

Zalman's promotion to Khan followed the resignation of Khan Natalie Breen after the withdrawl from Tukayyid. As a mark of his political savvy, he retained Breen as an advisor and appointed Alpha Galaxy Commander Christopher Ahmed as saKhan. It was Zalman, using Ahmed as an intermediary, who orchestrated the capture of nine worlds from the Jade Falcons. It was also the Khan's foresight that prompted a halt to the Trials to conserve the Viper Touman. Ironically, despite the Clan's strong position, the political aftermath of Ahmed's removal prevented the Vipers from exploiting the weakness of the Wolves and Falcons in the wake of the Refusal War. Khan Zalman regards this as the only failure of his Khanship.

Though well respected within and outside the Clan, the Khan remains uncomfortable in his role. In recent months, Zalman has focused his attention increasingly on Clan Jade Falcon, whose decision to allow a freeborn to compete in Bloodname trials he finds offensive. Indeed, Zalman has publicly declared his intention to "eliminate" the warrior in question, whom he vies as an aberration and an affront to all the Clans.