The Reaper


Designation: Anti-ground / anti-air walker.
Manufacturer: Ministry of Experimental Science.
Country of origin: USSR.
In mass production since: Soviet War Factory.

• PKX40 Grenade Launchers (x3)
• Katyusha Rocket Launcher
• Pressurised piston legs
• Optional independent suspension
• Intimidating ‘shark’s tooth’ paint scheme



There is a popular post-war proverb from the Soviet Union which translates as, ‘Hey, we gave it a go.’ It was first uttered by a team of artillerymen from Sickle on their disgraceful return to base following the Allies’ surprise siege of the former Prime Minister’s fortress in Leningrad. This led to a series of propaganda leaflets intended to offer comfort, distributed by the Soviet government which had been dismantled by its shaken people (essentially an extravagant ‘get well soon’ card that cost the country half of its remaining treasury). The image of a Sickle personified as an ice hockey player with a very sad and bruised expression, tears in his eyes and one leg in a plaster cast, became iconic throughout the war-torn Soviet Union. Although thousands of Sickles suffered crushing defeats during the war, this did not stop the Soviet Ministry of Experimental Science from refurbishing an older, less reliable prototype in an effort to maintain a shred of defensive capability and remain financially viable. It was initially assumed that this prototype, better known as the Reaper, possessed only a fraction of the power and manoeuvrability of its better-known cousin, as well as a crippling design flaw in its legs… a typical self-deprecating ‘hey, we tried’ example of an attitude so widespread in the USSR. But if the latest reports are to be believed, the Reaper is no laughing matter.


With the Soviet army in disarray, the Ministry of Experimental Sciences looked to the past for protection and dusted off an old, unfinished prototype: the Reaper.

The Reaper is a larger, more robust version of the Sickle. Instead of the Sickle’s heavy machine guns, the Reaper is fitted with three independent, articulated Grenade Launchers. In addition, it is fitted with a pivot-mounted rocket launcher situated on top of the vehicle, and its tracking system is sophisticated enough to lock onto fast-moving targets such as aeroplanes. Furthermore, the Reaper is constructed from an alloy similar to that used in Soviet battle tanks; despite its somewhat clunky appearance, it is more robust than the Sickle. If all this is to be believed, then the question becomes: ‘Why did the Kasmino Design Bureau (the manufacturer of the Sickle) favour the less powerful model, and why didn’t it scrap the other one?’ A theory that is both cynical and stereotypical: The Soviets like to save money. The Sickle is cheaper to mass-produce, whilst the Reaper has some as yet unidentified issues due to its lightness and speed. The Sickle went into mass production, whilst the Reaper was sold to the Ministry at a bargain price.

The Ministry of Experimental Science has inevitably revived the Reaper, but has not yet been able to rectify its main flaws: its multiple hardpoints are too heavy in relation to the movements and manoeuvrability of its legs. This means that the Reaper is slower than the Sickle; it also means that its legs are less reliable. Just like its cousin, the Reaper is capable of jumping long distances thanks to the powerful, pressurised pistons in its legs. Unlike its cousin, however, the Reaper seems incapable of executing a proper landing. In over 99 per cent of tests, the new reports show, the Reaper lands so hard that any attempt to jump causes its legs to snap off above it, and the Reaper’s body ends up half-buried in the ground.


The Reaper and the Sickle are like the crude Neanderthal and the clever, capable Homo sapiens.

Apart from this issue, the Reaper now appears to be a highly versatile all-purpose combat vehicle. Naturally, with the demilitarisation of the Soviet Union’s resources, one would not expect to find any experienced combat pilots capable of operating these vehicles, and the Reapers themselves are likely to be available in relatively limited numbers. However, current tests carried out by the Ministry show that a number of Soviet citizens are sufficiently familiar with the Reaper’s quirks and special features that they could, in theory, pose a threat.


BATTLEFIELD RECONNAISSANCE HAS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING FACTS ABOUT THE REAPER:

• Loaded with weapons– The Reaper hails from an era of Soviet excess, which is why it is packed with so many explosive weapons. Its three rapid-fire Grenade Launchers and the rocket launcher mounted on top of the vehicle are almost excessive in their stopping power, enabling the Reaper to engage both ground and air targets.

-The price of punishment- As it is only available in relatively limited numbers and packs such impressive firepower, the Reaper is quite expensive to produce, even more so than a Soviet main battle tank. Whilst most Soviet forces are considered specialised and effective, the Reaper can be seen as a versatile unit.

-The questionable proto-jump- Just like the Sickle, the Reaper is capable of jumping long distances. Unlike the Sickle, however, the Reaper can only do this once before its legs inevitably break, turning it into a makeshift defensive Turret. Being much heavier than the Sickles, Reapers can crush almost anything upon landing; it is therefore clear that the benefits of the proto-jump outweigh the consequences.

-The tenacious Turret – once legless, the Reaper remains fully operational, apart from its lack of mobility. It can still attack in any direction, and because the landing jump tends to bury half the Reaper in the ground, its defences are strengthened whilst in this state.