Warning! Violence, War, Magic & the Supernatural The fictional worlds of Rifts® are violent, deadly and filled with aliens, war and supernatural monsters. Other-dimensional beings often referred to as “demons,” torment, stalk and prey on humans. Alien life forms, monsters, vampires, ghosts, ancient gods and demigods, as well as magic, insanity, psychic powers and combat are all elements in this book. All of it is fiction. Some parents may find the violence, magic and supernatural elements of the game inappropriate for young readers/players. We suggest parental discretion. Please note that none of us at ® condone or encourage the occult, the practice of magic, the use of drugs, or violence.

Sample file An epic sourcebook for the Rifts® series. Compatible with the entire Palladium Books® Megaverse® 1 Dedications To John and Anna. Thank you for wanting something better. Brandon K. Aten ~ 2016

Thank you to all my teachers; especially Ken Orr who first introduced me to everything, Kent Juett who inspired my love of history, Gayle Hutcherson who let me learn on my own and Benjamin Harrison who showed me the dust under the rug. Matthew Orr ~ 2016

To everyone who has helped Palladium Books to get this far. Your contributions, great and small, are welcomed and cherished. ~ 2018

The cover, by , depicts a nine foot, Heavy Machine (full conversion cyborg) locked in combat with demonic forces in the city of Kaliningrad.

PDF Edition – November 2019

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Copyright 2018 Palladium Books Inc. & Kevin Siembieda

All rights reserved, worldwide, under the Universal Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews. All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of characters or persons living or dead, is strictly coincidental.

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Rifts® World Book 36: Sovietski™ is published by Palladium Books Inc., 39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185-7606. Printed in the USA by McNaughton & Gunn, in Saline, Michigan.

2 Palladium Books® Presents: Rifts® World Book 36: Sovietski™

Written by: Brandon Aten Matthew Orr Kevin Siembieda

Editors: Alex Marciniszyn Kevin Siembieda Wayne Smith

Proofreader: Julius Rosenstein

Cover Illustration: John Zeleznik

Interior Artists: Robert Atkins Wayne Breaux Jr. Steven Cummings Mark Dudley Charles Ferguson-Avery Ramon K. Perez Benjamin Rodriguez Charles “Chuck” Walton II

Art Direction: Kevin Siembieda Typography and Layout: Wayne Smith

Based on the RPG rules, writings, characters, settings, concepts and Megaverse® created by Kevin Siembieda.

Special Thanks to the writers, Brandon Aten and Matthew Orr, who conceived this book; to John Zeleznik for a powerfulSample cover; to all of the artists: Mark Dudley who led the way on this book, newcomersfile Steven Cummings and Robert Atkins, Chuck Walton, Ben Rodriguez, Charles Ferguson-Avery and the rest for bringing our ideas to life; and to the mighty, tough as steel Palladium heroes of the people, Alex, Wayne, Kathy, Julius, Chuck and Scott. – Kevin Siembieda, March, 2018

3 Contents Division of Paranormal ...... 39 Shaposhnikov Air Base ...... 39 A few words from the Authors ...... 8 Chernavin Naval Base ...... 39 History of the Sovietski ...... 8 Seventh Sabbath Sect ...... 39 The New Soviet Union ...... 10 Kurlensk 40 An Empire Built on Cybernetics ...... 11 Special Restricted Area ...... 40 The Dark Days of the Great Cataclysm 12 Gypsies in Kurlensk ...... 40 Winter’s End ...... 13 Bunker 119 41 Moskva Crater ...... 14 Atom Watchers Enclave ...... 41 Brodkil ...... 14 Volga Fortress 42 New Moscow ...... 14 The Mercantile 42 The Sovietski 14 Steel Canyon (Cyber-Docs) ...... 42 The Warlords of Russia 15 Other Sovietski Towns ...... 42 Notable Major Events, 105-109 P.A...... 16 Mustering a Village ...... 43 Brodkil War Plans 16 Underground Bunkers 43 General Shulash Goll ...... 16 Bunkers from Two Eras 44 106 P.A. The Army of Goll 16 Random Bunker Creation Table ...... 44 Goll’s Advance 18 Bunker Size Tables ...... 44 The Assault on Kiev ...... 19 Bunker Components Table 45 107 P.A. 20 Secondary Function ...... 46 Romanov Treaties, 107 P.A. 20 Accommodations 47 108 P.A. 21 Vehicles ...... 48 An Alliance Forms 21 Bunker Current Condition ...... 49 The Return of General Goll ...... 21 Bunker Occupants Table 50 109 P.A. to Present ...... 22 Life in the Sovietski ...... 51 The Battle for Kaliningrad 22 Views on Magic 51 The Siege Continues 22 Views on Psionics 52 Sovietski Government ...... 23 Views on Outsiders and D-Bees ...... 52 The State is All ...... 23 Religious Enclaves ...... 53 Planning Bureau ...... 23 Atom Watchers ...... 53 Government Regulation of Religion ...... 24 Church of Synthetic Movement 53 Freedom and Media 24 Nihilists ...... 54 Culture Office ...... 24 Reborn 54 The Communist Party 25 Red Saints 54 Party Secret Police & Cultural Enforcement ...... 26 Seventh Sabbath Sect ...... 55 KSSI ...... 26 Way of the Ancient Fathers 55 Supreme Soviet Authority 26 Window to the Infinite East 56 The Politburo 26 Dead Zones 56 The Directorate 27 Dead Zone Effect Table 56 The Apex of Power ...... 27 Holidays & Festivals 60 Foreign Relations ...... 28 Veterans’ Organizations 61 Warlord Sokolov 29 Red Star Reserve ...... 61 New German Republic 29 Chance Encounters ...... 62 The Kingdom of Tarnow, Poland ...... 29 Sovietski Small Talk Table ...... 62 Brodkil Empire 30 D-Bees Accepted by the Sovietski 64 Gargoyle Empire 30 Gridgitz ...... 64 Archaic Demons ...... 30 Psionics (Healing) ...... 65 Mindwerks ...... 31 Shu-Shuum ...... 66 Coalition States ...... 31 Acute Memory 67 Relations with other Powers ...... 31 Pattern Recognition ...... 67 Some Notable Sovietski Cities 32 The Rare Adventuring Shu-Shuum ...... 68 New Moscow ...... 32 Wolverine People ...... 68 Storm Cannons 32 Mega-Damage Creature ...... 70 Points of Interest in New Moscow 33 Alarm Howl ...... 71 New LeningradSample ...... 34 Robot Equivalent Physical Strengthfile ...... 71 Points of Interest in New Leningrad 35 Superior Sense of Smell ...... 71 Many dry docks ...... 35 Military Training/M.O.S. Packages ...... 71 The Crypt ...... 35 Yaganar ...... 73 Kaliningrad ...... 38 Advancement Bonuses by Element ...... 75 Kaliningrad Research Complex ...... 38 The Vanishing is near ...... 78

4 Other D-Bees in Russia ...... 78 Superheavy Machines ...... 139 The Sovietski Army ...... 79 Rusalka Superheavy Machine 139 Russian Weapons Technology ...... 80 Thunderfist Superheavy Machine 142 Combat Training ...... 80 Tsar “Big Ivan” Superheavy Machine ...... 145 Ground Forces 81 Enhanced Animal Cyborgs ...... 148 Light Cyborg Recon ...... 81 Bionic Birds of Prey 148 Armored Assault Corps ...... 81 Canine Cyborgs ...... 150 Sovietski Police ...... 82 Bear Cyborgs ...... 153 Soviet Tank Corps ...... 82 Cybernetics and Bionics 155 Red Star Reserves ...... 82 Salvaging Bionics 156 Mobile Artillery Defense Network ...... 83 Optional Bionics Installation Table 156 Thunderstorm Cannons ...... 83 Notable Cybernetics and Bionics ...... 157 Strategic Rocket Force 83 Cyberlink ...... 159 Soviet Naval Forces ...... 84 Bionic Weapons and Tools ...... 163 Aviators of the Sovietski 84 Sovietski Combat Vehicles ...... 169 Russian Airborne Troops ...... 84 Features Common to all Soveitski M.D.C. Vehicles . . . . 169 GRU Intelligence Agencies & Spetsnaz Forces ...... 84 Novyet Ekranoplans ...... 171 The KGB ...... 85 N-1051 Volkhov Light Transport Ekranoplan ...... 171 The Committee for State Security ...... 85 N-1082 Sadko Heavy Transport Ekranoplan ...... 172 Strategic Reconnaissance Operations ...... 85 SUMi-185 Red Squall VTOL Assault Platform ...... 174 Dragunov Cyborg Extermination Corps 85 SUMi-224 Stormbringer Gunship 176 Snow Queens 86 SUT-93 Firefang Multi-Role Fighter ...... 180 Long-Range Reconnaissance and Incursion 86 Sunburst Missile ...... 181 Sovietski Military Ranks ...... 86 Chaff Dispenser ...... 182 New and Revised Skills ...... 87 Sovietski Ground Vehicles ...... 182 Contacts – Social Connections ...... 87 SM-150 Snow Leopard Armored Snowmobile 182 Falconry 89 Smoke Launcher ...... 184 Skiing and Snowboarding 89 SM-212 Red Lightning Fast-Attack Motorcycle ...... 184 Law – Loopholes ...... 90 Sidecars (optional) 185 Sovietski O.C.C.s 90 SM-349 Street Sickle Heavy Attack Cyborg Trike 185 Cold Born (Psychic) O.C.C...... 90 SM-420 Road Hammer Assault Squad Vehicle 187 Cold Born O.C.C. Abilities and Bonuses ...... 92 Ram Prow ...... 188 Cold Born M.O.S. Packages 94 SM-451 Black Water Amphibious Attack Vehicle 188 Cyborg Soldier O.C.C...... 95 Mini-Torpedo Launchers ...... 189 Sovietski Army Cyborg Corps 96 Sovietski Tanks 190 Police Officer O.C.C...... 98 Available Tank Rounds ...... 190 Sovietski Police Branch ...... 98 Armor Piercing (AP) 190 Cybernetic Augmentation ...... 100 High Explosive (HE) 190 Infantry Soldier O.C.C...... 101 High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) ...... 190 Cybernetic and Bionic Enhancement ...... 102 Incendiary ...... 190 Soldier’s Motivation/Origin Table 102 Net Rounds 190 Infantry Soldier M.O.S. Descriptions ...... 104 Paint Rounds 191 Tanker O.C.C. 106 Smoke ...... 191 Tanker M.O.S. Descriptions ...... 107 Solid Slug ...... 191 Vedmak Cyber-Doc O.C.C. 108 Solid Slug: Screaming/Whistling ...... 191 O.C.C. Abilities and Bonuses ...... 110 Solid Slug: Silver ...... 191 Mad Doctor Table ...... 110 Solid Slug: Wood ...... 192 Vedmak Light Machine Chassis 112 SU-40 Thunderspear Anti-Aircraft Tank ...... 192 Spetsnaz Intel O.C.C./KGB 115 Anti-Aircraft Flak Guns ...... 192 O.C.C. Abilities and Bonuses ...... 115 SU-45 Earthquake Tank 194 Spetsnaz M.O.S. List 117 Auto-Cannon 196 Spetsnaz M.O.S. Descriptions ...... 118 SU-56 Shockwave Heavy Tank 197 Commissar O.C.C. (Non-Combatant) 124 100mm Cannon ...... 198 Citizen O.C.C. (Non-Combatant) 127 SU-58 Tunguska Super-Tank 199 SovietskiSample Cyborgs ...... 128 200mm Cannons ...... file ...... 202 Proletariat Light Machine 128 Heavy Plasma Cannons ...... 203 Heavy Machines ...... 131 SU-90 Iron Forge Mobile Cyborg Hospital 204 Sovietski Heavy Machine Combat Cyborg ...... 132 Water Vessels ...... 205 Firebird Heavy Machine ...... 134 SN-247 Torrent Class Fast Attack Gunboat ...... 205 Whirlwind Heavy Machine ...... 136 Medium Torpedo 206

5 Sonar 207 Pole Arm: SH-79 Vibro-Scythe 223 SN-357 Storm Swell Class Submersible Attack Ship 207 Experience Tables ...... 224 Acoustic Decoys ...... 209 Passive Sonar ...... 209 Quick Find Index Sonar Buoy Array ...... 209 Aircraft ...... 174 SN-686 Typhoon II Class Ballistic Missile Submarine 210 Amphibious Combat Vehicle (Black Water APC) . . . . . 188 Stealth System ...... 212 Amphibious Beach Landing Craft (Storm Swell) 207 Notable Armor and Weapons 212 Archaic Demons (Foreign Relations) 30 Body Armor ...... 212 Assault Platform (Red Squall) ...... 174 SA-107 Red Star Body Armor ...... 212 Assault Squad Vehicle ...... 187 SA-108 Red Star Light Machine “Light” Armor ...... 213 Auto-Cannon ...... 196 SA-109 Red Star Light Machine “Medium” Armor . . . . 213 Benrodski Crane Arm (Red Squall) 176 SA-110 Red Nova Heavy Machine Body Armor 214 Bionics, Descriptions of 157 Spetsnaz Body Armor 214 Body Armor 212 SSA-213 Spetsnaz Shooting Star “Exoskeleton” Armor . . 214 Body Armor, Black Star ...... 215 SSA-213H Black Star “Human” Body Armor ...... 215 Body Armor, Red Star ...... 212 SA-301EBA Proletariat Environmental Body Armor . . . 216 Body Armor, Shooting Star 214 Sovietski Weapons 217 Brodkil: Army of Goll ...... 16 Special Ammunition for Shotguns & Rail Guns 217 Brodkil: Empire 14 & 30 High Explosive ...... 217 Brodkil: Mindwerks 31 Paint Rounds ...... 217 Brodkil: War Plans ...... 16 Solid Slug: Metal ...... 217 Bunkers, 43 Solid Slug: Silver ...... 217 Bunkers, Occupants Table ...... 50 Solid Slug: Wood, Bone or Stone 217 Chaff Dispenser (Stormbringer) ...... 182 Grenades ...... 217 Cities, Sovietski 32 Fragmentation 217 Cities, Kaliningrad ...... 38 High Explosive (HE) ...... 217 Coalition States (Foreign Relations) ...... 31 Plasma 217 Communist Party ...... 25 Silver Fragmentation Light (S.D.C.) ...... 217 Communist Party, Secret Police (KSSI) ...... 26 Silver Fragmentation Heavy (M.D.C.) ...... 217 Connections, Social (Skill) ...... 87 Stun/Flash Grenade ...... 217 Cyber-Doc, Vedmak Cyborg ...... 108 Tear Gas Grenade 217 Cyber-Humanoid ...... 118 Smoke Grenades ...... 218 Cyberlink ...... 159 Flares ...... 218 Cyborgs, Sovietski ...... 128 Weapon Attachments & Enhancements ...... 218 Cyborg: Motorcycle/Trike (Street Sickle) ...... 185 Ballistic Knife Bayonet ...... 218 Cyborg: Shocktrooper (see Superheavy Machines) 139 Custom Grip 218 D-Bees 52 & 64 Flashlight ...... 218 D-Bee Elemental Being, Yaganar 73 Flash Suppressor ...... 218 D-Bee Healer, Gridgitz ...... 64 Grenade Launcher 218 D-Bee, Looks Human, Gridgitz 64 Optical Scopes ...... 218 D-Bee, Super-Memory, Shu-Shuum ...... 66 Silencer ...... 218 D-Bee Warrior, Wolverine People ...... 68 Vibro-Bayonet 218 D-Bees, others 78 Rifles ...... 219 Dead Zones ...... 56 AK-147 Kalashnikov (S.D.C.) ...... 219 Ekranoplans ...... 171 AK-247LL Light Laser Kalashnikov ...... 219 Enclaves, Religious ...... 53 AK-247HL Heavy Laser Kalashnikov ...... 219 Experience Tables 224 AK-347CR Cyborg Kalashnikov ...... 219 Flak Guns (Anti-Aircraft) 192 Dragunov SVD Rifle (S.D.C.) ...... 220 Flares ...... 218 Dragunov SVD-L2A Laser Sniper Rifle ...... 220 General Shulash Goll (Brodkil) 16 SVD-3B Super Dragunov Anti-Materiel Rifle ...... 220 Ground Vehicles ...... 182 OTs-38 Groza II “Terror II” ...... 220 Gunship Helicopter (Stormbringer) 176 Unusual Sovietski Weapons 221 Gypsies ...... 40 & 51 SH-31 Ballistic Knife ...... 221 Heavy Machine Body Armor (Red Nova) ...... 214 S-30-89 “BearSample Tooth” Ion Pistol ...... 221 Heavy Machine “Standard” Combatfile Cyborg ...... 132 S-30-51 Cyborg Grenade Revolver 221 Infantry Body Armor (Red Star) ...... 212 SH-37 Cyborg Vibro-Sword Shotgun 222 Jet Fighter (Firefang) ...... 180 S-10-68 Harpoon Laser Pistol 222 Kaliningrad ...... 22 & 38 SH-21 Vibro-Sickle 222 Kaliningrad Division of Paranormal ...... 38 & 39 Pole Arm: SH-76 Chainsaw Glaive 222 Kaliningrad Naval Base 39

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