Originally founded by Ki-Tarn Zilkia, a Kittani weapon engineer, the companies home base is in the city of Tolkeen. The company first began by copying a variety of Kittani designs especially weapons and power armors. As time went on, the company began to branch out and produce original designs, some of which are modified Kittani designs while others are of completely original designs. The company also produces a number of designs copied from Triax designs. The company is believed to have strong ties with the company "Metalworks Industries" although they are known to compete in several markets. The wife and children of Ki-Tarn also are important members of the company and have contributed in important ways to Zilkia Industries success. As well, several other displaced Kittani have joined the company although the majority of the company employees are humans. Several of Zilkia Industries are spider based. The "Spider Steed" is a medium sized design which is designed to fill a transport role. It is approximately the length of a horse.

Like all spider designs by Zilkia Industries, the "Spider Steed" is an eight legged design. There is a common joke by some of the company's engineers that they can make eight legged "Spider" designs unlike the Coalition. Each leg is articulated in a similar manner to a spider leg and stretch out to the sides. For a design based on legs, the eight legs makes the "Spider Steed" incredibly stable as well as allowing for damage to not topple the design. While it has gyros for better balance, it will stay completely stable without them unlike humanoid type designs. Up to two legs on a single side can be destroyed without the vehicle losing stability. With all eight legs intact, the "Spider Steed" can reach a maximum speed of one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour. The eight legs give it excellent ability to operate on rough terrain and can even 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.

Many consider it to be a mount like a robot horse although the vehicle has an open top cockpit. The cockpit, which is located in the thorax, is similar in design to the cockpit of many hover cycles. It is designed to be operated by a single pilot although a rider can ride behind them. There is a small wind shield but otherwise the pilot is exposed. The controls operate more like those of a robot vehicle than an animal. It does not have a wide variety of sensors with the pilot relying on whatever sensor systems are in their body armor. The vehicle does have a set of eyes which have the ability to work as video cameras with night vision and thermal imaging.

Standard model "Spider Steed" are unarmed although it can be fitted with some weapon systems at the expense of cargo. The rear area of the design is normal a small cargo carrying compartment with the ability to carry up to two hundred kilograms of cargo internally. This is a virtue of volume not of strength and more can be carried on what are effectively saddle bags. If not limited by volume, it can carry up to 1000 kilograms of cargo. As well, the "Spider Steed" can tow up to ten metric tons of cargo. If weapons are mounted, standard are a pair of mini-missile launchers which take up much of the rear compartment. Twelve mini-missiles can be carried in each launcher for a total of twenty-four mini-missiles. As well, a pair of light pulse lasers can be mounted in the eyes of the robot vehicle. These do not take up any cargo space and are similar to bionic laser eyes. Power for lasers is pulled from the fusion reactor.

Model Type: ZI-SPD-07 "Spider Steed"
Class: All Terrain Robotic Transport
Crew: One (Pilot) and can carry one passenger behind pilot

M.D.C. by Location:

	Optional: Rear Mounted Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	120 each
	Compound Type Eyes	20 each
	[1] Spider Legs (8):	50 each
	[2] Main Body:	240
	Windshield (1)	50

Notes:
[1] The destruction of a up to two legs on a side will not cause the design to be unbalanced and the spider steed 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.

Speed:
Running: 99.4 mph (160 kph) maximum.
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 500 feet (152.4 meters) if allowed by the pilot's body armor.
Range: Limited only by the pilot's endurance. Emergency food supply will keep the pilot alive for one week.

Statistical Data:
Height: 4 feet (1.21 meters)
Width: 5.5 feet (1.68 meters) for main body with legs extending out for 8.5 feet (2.59 meters) on either side
Length: 9.2 feet (2.80 meters)
Weight: 1.32 tons (1.2 metric tons)
Physical Strength: P.S. 32
Cargo: Small cargo area in rear which allows up to 440.9 lbs (200 kg) to be carried. Reduce by half if mini-missile launchers are mounted. Can carry up to 2204.6 lbs (1000 kg) if not restricted by volume on flanks. Also can tow up to 11.02 tons (10 metric tons).
Power System: Nuclear; average life is 20 years.
Black Market Cost: 6.5 million credits for a new, undamaged basic unit (unarmed.) Laser Eyes cost 150,000 for two and mini-missile launchers cost 200,000 for both.

Weapon Systems:

1. Laser Eyes - Optional (2): Built into each of the compound eye of the robot are pulse lasers. The lasers are controlled by the pilot and are activated by a button on the control stick. The pulse lasers are powered by into the reactor for unlimited shots.
   Maximum Effective Range: 1000 feet (305 meters)
   Mega-Damage: 2D6 for one eye and 4D6 for both eyes. A double blast counts as a single attack
   Rate of Fire: Equal to number of hand to hand attacks of pilot.
   Payload: Effectively unlimited.
2. Mini-Missile Systems - Optional (2): Mounted on each of the flanks of the rear part of body are high capacity mini-missile launchers. Takes up much of internal cargo bays if mounted. Mini-missile launchers retract when not in use. Each launcher carries twelve mini-missiles for twenty-four total.
   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 (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, or six.
   Payload: Twelve each launcher for twenty-four total.

[ 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 © 2008, Kitsune. All rights reserved.