Zilkia Industries has its company headquarters in the city of Tolkeen and was founded by a Kittani weapons engineer named Ki-Tarn Zilkia. Many of his designs are based on Kittani designs with a sprinkling of Triax developments as well. Several of his other family members are employed by Zilkia Industries although the bulk of his employees are human. It is believed that his company has strong ties with Metalworks Industries. Most of his designs show a strong external Kittani influence and several of his designs are quite unusual. There is a suit which is extremely similar to the K-Universal Power Armor although styling is quite different. More unusual of course is that several of his designs are eight legged and are believed to be inspired by spiders.

The "Battle Spider" is one of the eight legged designs developed by Zilkia Industries. Each leg is articulated in a similar manner to a spider leg and stretch out to the sides. There is a common joke inside the company that they can make eight legged "Spider" designs unlike the Coalition. The multiple legs allow for excellent stability as well as the fact that the design can loose up to two legs on a single side before collapsing. On eight legs, the "Battle Spider" can reach a top speed of about one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour and can handle incredibly rough terrain. One advantage the "Battle Spider" has over the Coalition "Spider Skull Walker" is due to its powerful legs, it can actually leap. Power is provided by a power armor class fusion reactor which appears to be similar to that which powers the Kittani Equestrian Power Armor.

The "Battle Spider" is relatively small with only a single position cockpit in the front of the vehicle. The cockpit is a bit cramped compared to the cockpit of other vehicles although not uncomfortable. It also mounts the sensor systems carried in a power armor instead of those carried in a standard robot vehicle. Still, the vehicle is better consider as a robot vehicle, even though small, because it is piloted through controls instead of the pilots movements.

The "Battle Spider" is meant more in the support role than in the direct combat role. Missions might include the support of troops or power armor. As a result, the Battle Spider is fairly lightly armored compared to some other designs. It should not be said that the design is weakly built but does not have the heavy armor of some of Zilkia Industries other designs. Also, unlike some other designs, the Battle Spider does not commonly come equipped with a force field although provisions have been made if the client wishes to have one installed if they desire. The Force Field generator which is most often mounted is the heaviest model Naruni robot class design.

The "Battle Spider" has no permanently mounted weapon systems. Instead is has a special mounting point which allows the design to carry the same optional weapon systems carried by the Triax "Hunter" infantry robot. These include particle beams, ion cannons, missile launchers, and even a long range flack cannon. The Flack cannons has the potential to inflict as much damage as the main gun of a Glitter Boy and has similar range. In addition to being useful against aircraft, it is useful as short range artillery. It is among the most common weapon systems carried on the spider robot. Combination medium range missile launchers and ion cannon is also popular with the ion cannon being extremely useful for self defense and the medium range missile launcher able to support from an extremely long range compared to other weapon systems. Unlike with the "Hunter", the weapon systems do not reduce the top speed of the "Battle Spider"

Model Type: ZI-SPD-03 "Battle Spider"
Class: All Terrain Robotic Weapon Platform
Crew: One (Pilot)

M.D.C. by Location:

	Optional: TX-843P Particle Beam Cannon:	170
	Optional: TX-862FC Anti-Aircraft Cannon:	210
	Optional: TX-871MM Missile Drum:	200
	Optional: TX-8841 Ion Cannon:	290
	[1] Spider Legs (8):	65 each
	[2] Main Body:	320
	Reinforced Crew Compartment:	120
	[3] Optional: Robot Class N-50A Super heavy Naruni force field:	320

Notes:
[1] 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.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the robot down completely, rendering it useless.
[3] The force field will stop energy attacks and fast moving objects. Slow moving objects can pass through. It Regenerates 1 M.D.C. per melee unless overloaded and then cannot be activated for 12 hours if overloaded. The force field pulls its power off of the power plant.

Speed:
Running: 99.4 mph (160 kph) maximum. Not slowed by attached weapon systems
Leaping: Powerful legs allow robot to leap 20 feet (6.1 m) up and 30 feet (9.1) across from a standing position, 25 feet (7.6 m) up and 50 feet (15.4 m) across with a short running start.
Flying: Not possible!
Underwater: It can walk along the bottom of the sea floor at 25% of maximum speed and has a maximum Ocean depth of 1 mile (1.6 km).
Maximum Effective Range: Limited only by the pilot's endurance. Emergency food and air supply will keep the pilot and gunner alive for one week.

Statistical Data:
Height: 6 feet (1.83 meters) with an additional 5 feet (1.52 meters) with weapon system mounted
Width: 6.8 feet (2.07 meters) for main body with legs extending out for 12.5 feet (3.81 meters) on either side
Length: 12.8 feet (3.90 meters)
Weight: 6.4 tons (5.8 metric tons) without attached weapon systems. Weapon systems add three to six tons to the weight of the vehicle.
Physical Strength: P.S. 40
Cargo: Small area for the pilot's personal items, as well as a weapon bin that has room for one rifle, one pistol, canteen and food rations (4 week supply). A two gallon water cooler is built into the unit as well.
Power System: Nuclear; average life is 20 years.
Black Market Cost: 10 million credits for a new, undamaged basic unit. Each weapon mount costs around 8 million credits. Force field generator costs an additional 2.5 million credits.

Weapon Systems:

1. Interchangeable Weapon Mounts (1): The "Battle Spider" is designed with a special interchangeable mount which can mount the same weapon systems which are carried on the Hunter power armor. Many weapon systems have their own independent power supplies and tracking systems. Unlike on the X-535 Hunter, the weapon mounts do not reduce the vehicle's top speed.
   1. TX-843P Interchangeable Particle Beam Cannon (1): This weapon is rarely carried on the Battle Spider and is considered to be of limited use by most crews. It is designed as a short range anti-armor and infantry weapon. Most crews do not like the weapons comparatively short range and it inflicts less damage than the flack cannon. The cannon can be aimed up or down 80 degrees.
      Overall Weight: 3 tons (2.7 metric tons), but comes with its own energy supply.
      Maximum Effective Range: 3000 feet (914 meters)
      Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 M.D. per single blast!
      Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-8).
      Payload: Effectively unlimited.
      Special Feature: Independent power supply.
   2. TX-862FC Interchangeable, Recoilless, Anti-Aircraft Flak Gun (1): This double-barreled, rapid-fire cannon shoots explosive rounds which are used against flying enemies and is also effective as short range artillery. It is the most popular weapon with crews due to the ability to inflict damage and long range of the cannon. The flak cannon can be aimed up or down 80 degrees.
      Overall Weight: 4.5 tons (4.1 metric tons), but comes with its own energy supply.
      Maximum Effective Range: 10,000 feet (3048 meters)!
      Mega-Damage: Single round 4D6 M.D., two rounds 1D6x10 M.D., or a rapid fire volley of six rounds 3D6 x 10 M.D.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-8).
      Payload: Total 800; 400 rounds in each giant ammo-drum. That's 133 rapid fire volleys of six rounds or 400 two round volleys.
      Special Feature: The flak cannon has an independent power supply and its own laser targeting and radar tracking system (the large round cylinder on top). The secondary sensor system can be especially useful if the sensor head of the hot is destroyed. The secondary sensor array also enables the big gun to track and automatically fire two round volleys at aerial targets while the pilot concentrates on enemy ground troops. Sensor Range: 11,000 feet (3353 in). Bonus: +1 to strike when set on automatic aerial attack, or + 2 to strike when fired by the pilot.
   3. TX-8841 Interchangeable Ion Cannon & Missile Launcher: The big cannon fires devastating ion blasts. Six medium range missiles are housed in a launcher above each shoulder. This weapon system is also quite popular because of the ability to engage targets at long range with the medium range missiles and the Ion cannon gives both the ability of close support and defense against aerial attack. Both launchers are capable of 180 degree upward rotation.
      Overall Weight: 6 tons (5.4 metric tons)
      Ion Cannon:
      Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
      Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 per blast
      Cannon Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-8).
      Cannon Payload: Effectively unlimited.
      Special Feature: The cannon has its own laser targeting and radar tracking system built into the weapon itself (the large round cylinder on top). Range: 6000 feet (1828 meters). Bonus: +1 to strike.
      Medium Range Missile Launcher:
      Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Mega-Damage: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Missile Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four.
      Missile Payload: 12 medium range missiles total; six in each launcher.
   4. TX-871MM Interchangeable Rotary Missile Drum Launchers (2): Forty Eight Mini Missiles are housed in a launcher in two drums. The Mini-missile launcher system is not as popular are the flack cannon and the combination medium range missile and ion cannon weapon systems. Both launchers are capable of 180 degree upward rotation. Some sources list this mount as a medium range missile launcher or a short range missile launcher but is in reality a mini-missile launcher.
      Overall Weight: 6 tons (5.4 metric tons)
      Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini-missile type; Usually armor piercing or fragmentation are carried (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Mega Damage: Varies with mini-missile type; Usually armor piercing or fragmentation are carried (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 or 48.
      Payload: 96 Mini-Missiles total! 48 in each launcher. A typical combat mix is 48 armor piercing, 40 plasma, 4 fragmentation and 4 smoke.
      Special Feature: The rotary missile drum has its own laser tracking, radar, targeting, communications and all the sensor systems standard to robots. This can be especially useful if the sensor head is destroyed or it can track targets independent of the Jager's sensor head. Range: 6000 feet (1828 in). Missile Bonus: +2 to strike.
      Payload: Eight total. The usual mix is four smoke and four tear gas.
2. Hand to Hand Combat: The "Battle 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 1D4 M.D. for every 20 mph of speed, Kick, which inflicts 1D4, and Stomp, which inflicts 2D4 M.D., effective against any object 6 feet (1.8 meters) or smaller.

[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
[Kittani, Triax and Naruni Enterprises are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

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

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2007, Kitsune. All rights reserved.