This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple Fallout media. For information specific to a given game or TV series, consult the table below.
Their origin is unclear. Two motherships, Zeta and an unnamed craft, are known to be in orbit as of 2277. The Zetans have been engaging with humankind as early as the 1600s, attracting nearly zero attention for most of human history. Until the 1960s, only by "crackpot" groups such as Quaere Verum, believed in the existence of aliens and that they were being covered up by a government conspiracy.
But after the abduction of the USSA space capsule Clarabella 7 and the pilot astronaut Colonel Hartigan during the 1960s Space Race, the existence of aliens became nationally recognized.[Non-game 1] It is said that alien technology was the basis of many of the Enclave's more exotic and impressive weaponry and robotics.[Non-game 1] Even toy manufacturers such as Wilson Atomatoys were not immune to these accusations[Non-game 1] and the United States government, which was said to keep its alien specimens and technology mostly in Area 51 (like a flying saucer that was after re-captured by aliens but crashed in California probably during the flight sometime after the Great War, instantly killing the two alien pilots).
Some of the advanced human technologies were created by using the alien technology like the AI project number 59234, also known as Skynet, which was created in the 2050s and manages the entire Sierra Army Depot,[4] and (allegedly) the device blocking telepathic and psychic commands, the psychic nullifier.[Non-game 2]
Zetan aliens are the only extraterrestrials that could be considered a faction.
Aliens are relatively small, green-yellowish-skinned humanoid beings with no primary sex characteristics. Their bodies are elongated with a small chest, are lean, and lack any muscular definition. They also display no body hair of any kind. Their legs are shorter and jointed differently than a normal human and their limbs are also proportionally different than a normal humanoid; their humerus and femurs are the same lengths as their forearms and tibias.
Their heads are unusually large in proportion to their bodies and have no noticeable outer ears or noses, instead only having small orifices for ears and nostrils. They have very wide mouths, no teeth, a light green tongue, and large opaque black eyes with no discernible iris or pupil. Their hands have only three long suctioned-cupped fingers and no thumbs, however, their fingers are so long they can wrap around objects and use any objects like any other humanoid species. They seem to breathe a similar atmosphere to that of Earth.[5] Processing nutrients through the body with green blood, their diet includes unknown worm and squid food.
A Zetan encased in a purple space helmet, which obscures its face save for its glowing white eyes. The rest of the body is sealed in a protective suit, with an armored breathing apparatus and a large spade-shaped frill on its back. Flatwoods monsters have no visible legs, the suit instead terminating to a bullet-shaped point at its bottom, with what appear to be small hover-jets around the waist, allowing the creatures to float above the ground. A Flatwoods monster's long arms are tipped with large, three-fingered hands clad in large black gloves.
During the Fallout 4Creation Club quest Over the Moon, the Sole Survivor encounters a Zetan UFO as it drops off 2 Zetans; one carries an alien atomizer while the other carries a disintegrator.
Zetans periodically invade Appalachia during the seasonal event Invaders from Beyond, which features the voice of Homer Saperstein, a self-described alien researcher.
Homer and the Zetans can also be encountered during Daily Ops.
In Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, an alien called "Zetan Alien" appears as part of the Wasteland Creatures AI faction.
Another recon craft can be seen exploding overhead during the Unidentified Flying Debris random encounter.
At the Citadel, there is information on a terminal (in the A-Ring) about another ship of an unknown type named Palandine that crashed in a heavily wooded area which the government was not able to reach.[7]
The creatures that are known as wanamingos are referred to as aliens but are actually the result of genetic engineering by humans and have nothing to do with aliens.
“I put the Zetan skeleton there to show that the Glow was the advanced R&D facility where they had the most secret and most unusual projects (we didn't call it a "Zetan" at the time, just an alien)
(...)
The original Fo was not strongly designed to deal with aliens, obviously flying saucers and little green men with bulbous heads are part of the genre but there was enough going on without leaning into that, so it was just an additional "spice" to fit the motifs of the game.
The later development of Zetans as a formalized part of the setting by Bethesda was just them expanding on that area of the 50s sci-fi. Of course they had to make a model for their engine and decide on a story and all of that. For our purposes in Fo1, it was just "Hey, let's put an alien skeleton in and scale it so it looks like one of those 50s sci-fi movie aliens."”— Jesse Heinig, Messages in the Modiphius Discord
Aliens in Fallout 3 were designed to resemble stereotypical representations of aliens known as "Roswell Greys," sometimes referred to as Zeta Reticulans.[Non-game 3]
↑ 2.02.1The Chosen One: "{176}{}{Xeno program.}" Shi Emperor: "{182}{}{'The subject on which we had hoped to establish a series of meaningful experiments has disappeared, presumed either destroyed or stolen by the Hubologists. Further inquiries have proven fruitless. Until such time as further specimens are obtained, this database will remain inoperative.' - Dr. Sheng}" (Shi Emperor's dialogue)
↑Only accessible if the Citadel is targeted during Who Dares Wins.
↑ 4.04.1The Chosen One: "Artificial intelligence?" Skynet: "Skynet was conceived and developed in the year 2050. Through the use of alien technology a new thinking computer was perfected. In the year 2081, Skynet became self-aware. In 2120 Skynet was given a new set of instructions and then abandoned by the Makers." (Skynet main interface terminal's dialogue)
↑A live alien in Fallout 4 is seen in a cave with no helmet or breathing apparatus.
↑The Chosen One: "{127}{}{Xeno program.}" Biology station: "{130}{}{'The subject on which we had hoped to establish a series of meaningful experiments has disappeared, presumed either destroyed or stolen by the Hubologists. Further inquiries have proven fruitless. Until such time as further specimens are obtained, this database will remain inoperative.' - Dr. Sheng}" (Biology station terminal's dialogue)
↑ 1.01.11.21.3Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.45: Aliens "Once thought to be covered up by a government conspiracy and believed only by 'crackpot' groups such as the Quaere Verum, evidence of extraterrestrial life can be traced back throughout human history, but became nationally recognized after the mysterious disappearance of the Clarabella 7 space pod during the 1960s Space Race. It is said that Alien technology was the basis of many of the Enclave's more exotic and impressive weaponry and robotics, and even toy manufacturers such as Wilson Automatoys weren't immune to these accusations. Recently, after the discovery of an Alien body in Fort Bannister, the shocking truth was revealed. The Aliens are not only real and alive, but they're back. And they're pissed." (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide faction profiles)
↑The Hachiko Interview With Joel Burgess & Jeff Gardiner: Players who found the UFO also found the remains of the pilot, who looks like the old school Roswell grays for the most part. Are these the same models being used for Mothership Zeta? Will the grays be the only enemies or are there a variety of new aliens to fight side-by-side with the gray pilot witnessed in the retail game? Jeff Gardiner: "Yes, we're modeling the same basic enemy after the 'Roswell grays.' There are other enemies that will be uncovered as well, including alien robotics."
In Fallout: New Vegas, with the Wild Wasteland trait, the Courier can encounter an unnamed recon craft with two aliens and an alien captain around.
During the Fallout 4 Creation Club quest Over the Moon, the Sole Survivor encounters a Zetan UFO as it drops off 2 Zetans; one carries an alien atomizer while the other carries a disintegrator.
A flying saucer in California.
A recon craft named Theta in the Capital Wasteland.
The UFO crash site in the Commonwealth.
