SPETZNAZ

The Russian Special Forces

"You may think that the Cold War ended more than 50 years ago. Those of you who do are fools. The power may have shifted hands, but the situation remains the same. Our missiles are still pointed at you, and your missiles are still pointed at us. Most people are so preoocupied with the magic, metahumans and megacorps that they fail to realize that the game goes on.
"And on it goes, whether the genral public realizes it or not. Our Gorshovs still play their game of "Cat and Mouse" beneath the surface of the sea with your Megaladons. Our Bear-Zulus are still being intercepted by your F-35s and escorted away from your carrier battle groups. Politicians still rattle their sabres as always. It is all just a show of force.
"Sometimes, something more than a show of force is needed. Sometimes, an application of force is needed. Just to make sure it all hasn't become an illusion. That's where we come in, we are the Spetznaz.
"What do I mean by American, you ask? Do I mean UCAS? No. I mean America. All of North America. Not UCAS, nor the CAS, nor the Tir, nor any other petty nation states, but America! This Balkanization of the US into smaller nations is merely a sign of growing pains. When it comes to defense, America is still whole; Tir Tairngire may have had its differences with CFS, but Tir pilots currently go through CARQUALS on CFS's carriers. NAN and UCAS troops routinely conduct joint manuevers. Give it a decade or two, and America will be whole again -- perhaps in a different, more diverse form, but as a society: Whole. And still a threat, even a greater threat than it is now.
"Perhaps you've wondered why there's a Russian presence in Mexico -- I'm sorry, I meant Aztlan -- providing assistance in their suppression of guerillas. You were unaware? Who do you think originally came up with the combined arms army concept that they currently use? That hot new railgun-armed LAV that they use? If you look at the first 30 or so of them, you will notice the Mikoyan label on the fuselage. Da, right where the Aztechnology logo goes. The Azzies simply manufacture them under license; our license.
"Why are we bothering with a bunch of Worm-worshippers, killing a bunch of backwoods drek-kickers? Well, when America does reunify, it would be beneficial to have a Russian client state, with a great degree of influence, sitting on the border. A much better choice than Cuba, I think; Cuba was small and backward. Aztlan, on the other hand... Now there's a staging area, plenty of space to hide troops and material, a decent road system to provide logistics, and, best of all, it's physically attached to our enemy -- invading across 90 miles of ocean would be suicidal, but with Aztlan, once the 27th Shock Army gets to...
"I'm sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. Pour me some more Wyborowa and, oops! "

>>>>>[Sorry guys, that's about all I could get before he dropped his drink and passed out. I figured I wanted to add some flavor to the Spetznaz section, so enter one Colonel Yuri Popovich. He's ex-Spetznaz (got booted to a REMF position after some training accident, or so he says), and he's currently attached to the Russian Consulate in Portland. He also has the knack for shooting his mouth off when he's drunk (not to mention getting drunk in the first place). Thanks to Genocide and his connections in the Tir, I was able to get the proper documentation to pass myself off as a Lithuanian journalist visiting the Tir. I found Popovich, told him I was interested in doing a story on him (did I mention he's an egomaniac with an axe to grind, along with a strong desire for Russia to return to the good old days? That's the good old Stalin days). We stopped off at a bar, and I started pouring the drinks and steering the conversation. I didn't get much more out of him as he started singing some vulgar Volga fisherman's drinking song before passing out again. However, to any of you involved with the intelligence arms of UCAS, TT, CFS, CAS, and NAN; keep your eyes open for any deployment of the 27th Shock Army. The way he was talking, we could be hearing from them in the not to distant future]<<<<<

- Igor (10:13:06/2-25-56)

>>>>>[I know some of you might read this and sign the good Colonel off as a nostalgic psychopath (and to a certain degree you'd be most justified in doing so). Do not forget, however; that Mr Popovich is a part of the Russian Consulate, and, as far as military power is concerned, he knows his drek. The trick is to read through the liquor and wishful dreaming and extract the real information. I doubt the 27th will be sitting on our doorstep preparing for the Red Dawn anytime soon, but knowing Popovich, the 27th just might have some agenda down south someday soon.]<<<<<

- Genocide (16:17:56/2-28-56)

Commentary

The Spetznaz compose the largest special warfare unit in the world, according to intelligence estimates in 2050, they stand at about 35,000 members. The forces are essentially the SpecWar arm of the GRU, the Russian Military Intelligence organization. Their missions include: the assassination of enemy and politcal military leaders (it was a bullet fired from a Spetznaz Dragunov that installed a Soviet puppet regime in Afghanistan); attacks on enemy bases (particularly nuclear capable) and CÒ centers; and general attacks on military and civil targets (logistics, power, etc.) to create panic and disruption. Spetznaz are usually sent in preceding an invasion to sow chaos and disruption. Spetznaz units serve in both the Russian Army and Navy.
An Army Spetznaz brigade consists of: An Anti-VIP company (a unit specifically trained to find, ID and kill enemy political and military leaders. Needless to say, this unit is composed exclusively of volunteers), 3 or 4 battalions, a signal company, and support units.
A Naval Spetznaz brigate has an Anti-VIP company, a group of midget submarines, 2 to 3 battalions of combat swimmers, a parchute battalion, and supporting units.
The vast majority of Spetznaz are professional atheletes and pysadepts; the bulk of the Russian Olympic teams are believed to be Spetznaz. In fact on numerous occassions, Spetznaz operations have been comprimised due to someone recognizing a former athelete.
Unlike many special forces, Spetznaz have no special uniform or markings -- usually wearing the same uniform as the airborne/air assault forces they are assigned to. When assigned to a foreign country, Spetznaz usually wear the uniforms and share barracks with communications troops. Naval troops wear the Naval Infantry uniforms ("Russian Marines"), except for the midget sub crews who wear submariners' uniforms. In war, however, most Spetznaz troops would be wearing enemy uniforms or civilian clothing when the as appropriate.

>>>>>[In fact, Spetznaz troopers are often sent on vacations with fake identification in order to "scope out" enemy locations beforehand. I guess one can never know where the opperatunity of invasion will next arise.]<<<<<

- Genocide (16:22:12/2-28-56)

Attributes Attributes
Body: 6
Quickness: 7
Strength: 6
Charisma: 3
Intelligence: 5
Willpower: 4
Essence: ?
Body Index: ?
Reaction: 6 (11)

Initiative: 5 (11)+ 1D6 (2D6)

Threat/Professional Rating: 5/4

(Anti-VIP: 6/4)

Bioware

Muscle Augmentation (2)
Trauma Damper
Tracheal Filter

Skills
Armed Combat: 3 (Entrenching Tool: 5)
Athletics: 5
Biotech (First Aid): 3 (Medics: 7)
Car: 3
Demolitions: 3 (Demolitions Specialists: 6)
Electronic Warfare: 2 (Communications Specialists: 6)
Etiquette (Military): 4
Firearms: 5
Gunnery: 3 (Weapons Sergeants: 5)
Military Theory (Small Unit Tactics): 4
Stealth: 4
Throwing Weapons (Non-aerodynamic): 4
Unarmed Combat: 5

Special Skills

Disguise: 3 (Anti-VIP Specialists: 6)
Parachuting: 4
Small Boat Handling: 3
Submersible Craft: 5 (Midget submarine crews only)
Cyberware

Cybercomm Link (w/Commlink X, Crypto Circut HD 10)
Cyberears (w/Damper, Hearing Amplification and Spatial Recognizer)
Cybereyes (w/Flare Compensation, Low Light Vision and Thermograohic Vision)
Reaction Enhancer (3)
Smartlink (2)
Wired Reflexes (1)

Gear

AK-107 [or AK-98] (w/300 rounds APDS, smartlink II [+20 IPE grenades if carrying the AK-98])
Super Makarov (w/36 rounds APDS ammo, smartlink II)
Fineblade knife (long blade)
Appropriate camouflague suit and vest w/plates, or medium military armor (w/helmet)
Other gear as appropriate

Notes

The AK-107 is a bullpup version of the AK-97 with an integral Smartlink II. It's virtually identical, except for the increased concealability of 1 and the 50% increase of cost.

Special Rules

Responding to demands of Spetznaz troops for an equivalent of the American Sig 666 SOCOM III, Russian Military Industries has responded with the Super Makarov.
ConcealAmmoModeDamageWeightAvailabilityCostStreet Index
Super Makarov512SA9M2.2512/14 days*525´6

The Super Makarov comes with its own silencer/supressor (-1 conceal), and can have the slide locked for completely silenced firing (changing the fire mode to SS). It also has an internal Smartlink II. Note that the Super Marakov is very scarce in Russia.

Written by: Igor (Robert J. Cruze Jr)