Zilkia Industries ZI-SPD-06 “Wolf Spider” Artillery Walker:

Zilkia Industries is one of the most unique companies on Rifts Earth. It is headquartered in the city of Tolkeen and was founded an escaped Kittani weapon engineer named Ki-Tarn Zilkia. His first designs were standard Kittani weapons and power armors. Since then, the company has branched out and includes Triax designs and totally new designs although most of the company’s products still have a Kittani style. Due to the two companies using many of the same weapon systems, it is believed that the company has strong ties with the company “Metalworks Industries” even though the companies compete in many of the same markets. It is worth noting that several of of Ki-Tarn's children have followed in his footsteps and have contributed to the companies success. Several other renegade Kittani work for the company as well although most of the company’s employees are human. The company has an affinity for spider designs The War Spider is the largest and the Wolf Spider uses the same chassis in its design. So far, only a pair of "Wolf Spiders" are believed to have been build. The eventual plan appears to be to work the two designs together.

Like the “War Spider,” the “Wolf Spider” is an eight legged vehicle design. Unlike the “War Spider”, the “Wolf Spider” is armed for long range artillery support. It uses the same transmission and power system as the spider tank design and has a top speed of around one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour. Due to having eight legs, the artillery walker can traverse most terrains. As well, the walker can lose up to two legs on a side and still be able to operate. The design retains the thrusters of the “War Spider” and can leap short distances. The thrusters do not provide enough thrust to provide flight. The fusion reactor provides enough power for several years of continuous operation before needing to be refueled.

To provide room for additional ammo, the “Wolf Spider” eliminates the space for an additional passenger along with most of the additional storage. In addition, the armor on both the main body and the cockpit is reduced in the artillery model. Still, the design is fairly well armored and can take a large amount of punishment. It is not designed to enter into direct combat but often the battlefield is a confusing place. Sensor systems and electronics are state of the art like in the War Spider and the main difference between the system is programming although there are minor hardware changes as well

The main weapon of the “Wolf Spider” is a 155 mm long barreled howitzer. It is mounted in a central turret in a similar fashion to the spider tank. Payload is forty-eight rounds and the design features a fully automated loading system. A wide variety of different rounds are available included rocket propelled and guided rounds. The weapon can be loaded from an external source to maintain the weapon's rate of fire. The “Wolf Spider” does not retain the Vulcan laser which the “War Spider” mounts beside the main gun. As well, one of the Spider Defense Systems is eliminated and the number of mini-missiles carried in the mini-missile launchers are reduced. It was decided that the mini-missile launchers would be retained to give the artillery walker some measure of close in defense and the Spider Defense System is designed to protect the platform from incoming missiles. Power is provided by the fusion reactor and has a virtually unlimited payload.

Model Type: ZI-SPD-06 “Wolf Spider”
Vehicle Type: All Terrain Robotic Artillery Walker
Crew: Three (Pilot, Gunner, and Commander)

M.D.C. by Location:

	Howitzer Turret:	220
	155 mm / 56 Caliber Howitzer Barrel:	150
	[1] ZI-1000 Spider Defense Systems (1, Above Turret):	50
	Side Mounted Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	120 each
	[2] Spider Legs (8):	125 each
	Under Belly Thruster:	150
	Rear Thrusters (2):	100 each
	[1] Headlights (4):	10 each
	Hatches (2, top):	100 each
	Reinforced Crew Compartment:	160
	[3] Main Body:	550

Notes:
[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make “Called Shot;” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] The destruction of a up to two legs on a side will not cause the design to be unbalanced and the battle spider will still be able to move. Speed is reduced by 10% per leg destroyed.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the robot down completely, rendering it useless.

Speed:
Running: 99.4 mph (160 kph) maximum.
Leaping: Cannot leap without using thrusters but can leap using thruster. The vehicle can leap 30 feet (9.1 meters) up and 50 feet (15.4 meters) across from a standing position, 50 feet (15.4 m) up and 80 feet (24.4 meters) across with a short running start.
Flying: Not possible! The rear thruster and under belly thruster are provided to add stability, balance, and minimal thrust in space or underwater.
Underwater: It can walk along the bottom of the sea floor at 25% of maximum speed. With thrusters, can travel at speeds up to 34.5 mph (30 knots / 55.6 kph) underwater. Has a maximum ocean depth of 2 miles (3.2 km).
Maximum Effective Range: Limited only by the pilot’s endurance. Emergency food and air supply will keep the pilot and gunner alive for four weeks.

Statistical Data:
Height: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) including turret, 8.7 feet (2.7 meters) not including turret
Width: 12.2 feet (3.7 meters) for main body with legs extending out for 22.4 feet (6.8 meters) on either side
Length: Main Body: 28.2 feet (8.6 meters) and with Gun Forward: 42.7 feet (13.0 meters).
Weight: 63.9 tons (58 metric tons) fully loaded
Physical Strength: P.S. 40
Cargo: Three K-4 (or other) laser rifles and three missile launchers with 5 loads each are stored in a compartment behind the driver's seat.
Power System: Nuclear; average life is 20 years.
Black Market Cost: 48.5 million credits for a new, undamaged basic unit.

Weapon Systems

155 mm / 56 Caliber Howitzer: Very powerful and long range weapon that is capable of 360 degree rotation and up to 75 degree elevation. The Wolf Spider does not need to plant before firing its howitzer and can fire within 15 seconds. It fires standard artillery shells and is normally fired indirectly on the target but can be fired as direct fire if necessary. The cannon is loaded by a automatic shell loading device, which is fed from a onboard magazine. The magazine is fully automated and keeps stock of the amount and type of rounds still available. It can switch between rounds at will.
Maximum Effective Range: 18.6 miles (30 km) for non rocket assisted and 24.9 miles (40 km) for rocket assisted projectiles.
Mega-Damage: By artillery round type (Go to Battlefield Artillery for Rifts for details: Fragmentation 2D4x10, High Explosive 2D6x10, Armor Piercing 3D6x10, Plasma 4D6x10, and has a vast number of other type of rounds as well).
Rate of Fire: 10 rounds per minute (2.5 per melee) for a maximum of 5 minutes (effectively until its ammunition runs out). Can fire at a rate of fire of 4 rounds per minute after that.
Payload: 48 rounds in a automated magazine. Can be loaded from exterior to retain rate of fire. Reloading 1 round costs 1 melee, or 12 minutes for the entire supply.
ZI-1000 Spider Defense Systems (1): Mount is permanently mounted on the turret on the top and are side by side. The systems are connected to the ships power supply so that it has unlimited shots. Weapon system normally is used as an anti-missile defense. Weapon system also has four grenades which two are usually smoke and two are usually prismatic aerosol for use against lasers. Other grenades can be used as well.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) for light blasts, 3,000 feet (915 meters) for heavy blasts, 20 feet (6.1 meters) for electrical current, 100 feet (30.5 meters) for smoke grenades
Mega Damage: 4D6 for light blasts, 1D4x10 for heavy blasts, 3D6 S.D.C. for electrical current. See Grenades for details on grenades
Rate of Fire: 6 Attacks per melee (+2 to strike) - grenades are fired on at a time.
Payload: Unlimited (has 4 grenades each mount - usually two smoke and two prismatic aerosol)
Side Mounted Mini-Missile Systems (2): The only weapons not mounted in / on the turret, these are mounted on the sides of the “War Spider.” Each are high capacity mini-missile launchers although have only half the payload of the mini-missile launchers on the War Spider. Mini-missile launchers retract when not in use. Each launcher carries twelve mini-missiles for twenty-four total. Normally used for short range combat and is extremely devastating when used in that manner.
Missile Type: Any mini-missile can be used, but standard issue is armor piercing (1D4x10 M.D.) or plasma (1D6x10). Fragmentation will be used for anti-personnel operations.
Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), six (6), or twelve (12) missiles.
Payload: Twelve each launcher for twenty-four total.
Hand to Hand Combat: The “Wolf Spider” is a robot vehicle that is not designed for hand to hand type combat. Its only three attack modes are Body Block/Ram, which inflicts 1D6 M.D. for every 20 mph of speed,, Kick, which inflicts 1D6, and Stomp, which inflicts 3D6 M.D., effective against any object 10 feet (3.05 meters) or smaller.

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Original company idea by Ki-Tarn Zilkia (Kitarn@netscape.net)

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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