The War Bear


Designation: Combat Talon
Training Headquarters: Ministry of Science, Omsk
Trained at: Soviet Barracks
Motto: “Mrrroooo”.

Accessories:

• Sharp claws
• Shumov-3 howl amplifier
• Fitted safety training collar
• Armour suitable for most sizes
• Microchip implant



As the Soviet War Machine gained ground, it became increasingly clear to the leaders of the Soviet Union that fear was one of their most powerful weapons against their many enemies. With the V4 Rocket Launcher, the Kirov Airship and the Apocalypse Tank, it would be fear that would ultimately force the Union’s enemies to submit to their invincible army. The Ministry of Experimental Science received an extraordinary research grant, equivalent to the combined salaries of the entire Soviet intellectual elite, to develop a wide variety of new weapons. Among the successes of this research are the famous Desolator Bomb, the Stingray attack craft, the widespread Magnetic Satellite and, of course, the Union’s War Bears programme. Russia’s use of these powerful mammals in frontline combat has not only bolstered the morale of its human fighters, but has also resoundingly succeeded in training the reluctant enemy infantry to fight Soviet forces on the ground.


The Soviet Union’s highly trained War Bear regiments strike fear into the hearts of their enemies by serving dual roles as deployable front-line fighters and combat Talons.

Intended as a more durable replacement for the Soviet Attack Dogs (which proved unsuitable for harsh weather conditions and Allied Artillery), these Russian bears were born in captivity, trained from birth in military tactics and prepared to withstand the rigours of the modern battlefield. Their claws are specially sharpened to cut through light armour, and their bodies are fitted with special scanning systems and a vocal amplification module that transforms a powerful howl into an explosion so deafening that it can paralyse enemy Soldiers. The War Bears are hardy enough to withstand the icy waters along the borders of the Soviet Union, where they are often required to patrol in search of potential spies and frogmen.

Although it is difficult to recall a time before trained bears fought alongside Soviet men and women for the glory of their Motherland, the path of the War Bears programme was not without its pitfalls. Early attempts at training yielded mixed results, as some War Bears – despite a lifetime of training – became, quite predictably, rabid during combat situations, attacking the nearest Conscript rather than enemy combatants. A worrying percentage of War Bears also suffered from wandering, anaemia, or other general reluctance to perform to acceptable standards. Whilst this directly benefited the Union’s ‘typically sinister’ food supply, it was disastrous for the public image of the Ministry of Experimental Science, which eventually regained its popularity following the introduction of special training collars. Fitted with millions of tiny Tesla-based life-restorative transmitters, these training collars enable direct interaction between the bear and the Commander of the battlefield, whilst a standard microchip implant transmits the bears’ vision to battlefield Radar Scans. The obedience and misbehaviour of the War Bears have never been an issue since.

The conditions under which the War Bears are prepared during their time on the battlefield are a closely guarded secret, although it is generally assumed that these conditions are probably not very orthodox. A world-renowned animal psychologist has noted that the War Bears, although all different, appear to show acute signs of depression and anxiety, even more so than their human comrades fighting alongside them in battle. The psychologist recommended that the bears be released into the wild immediately. When confronted with this accusation during a live television broadcast, representatives of the Ministry of Experimental Science responded by mockingly repeating the psychologist’s words in a shrill tone, before ordering his arrest for treason.


Reconnaissance on the battlefield has at least revealed the following facts about the War Bears:

• A powerful roar– Enemy infantry caught within earshot of a War Bear’s amplified roar are temporarily deafened. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of fatalities caused by the War Bears’ claws. War Bears can only use this ability rarely.

-Death to Spies- One of the most rigorous aspects of War Bear training is used to finely tune their naturally excellent sense of smell, enabling them to literally sniff out enemy spies. Casualties amongst Allied secret agents operating undercover in the Soviet Union have reached record levels following the introduction of a national protocol for War Bear patrols.

-Dangerous Waters- Whilst Russian bears can swim naturally, they must be gradually retrained to swim due to their heavy armour. Fortunately, by the time they are ready for combat, the War Bears are just as capable of patrolling the seas as they are on land. And they are no less effective at killing enemy infantry forced to travel by water.

-Ineffective against armour - Although overzealous Soviet battlefield commanders continue to try and refute this use of the Bear, the evidence overwhelmingly shows that War Bears are ill-suited to combat situations involving armoured vehicles. Their claws are not sharp enough and their armour not thick enough to be used in such engagements.