Krasnya-Kometa*
There are not as many unanswered questions about the origins of Saveliy Rafikov's powers as there are those of some of the other members of the Assembly, but some have persisted long after the opening of the KGB's archives. While it's known that he was empowered by surviving the explosion of an experimental fighter jet while it was in air, the jet's specifications remain uncensored. It has long been assumed that the jet's engine was some new product of the Soviet equivalent of the Skunk Works, likely a micro-scale nuclear power plant, but there is some evidence that such devices were outside the reach of Soviet science in the late 1950s. A different theory has it that the jet was a perfectly normal if advanced aircraft, and that it encountered some as-yet unidentified phenomenon in the atmosphere which destroyed it and transformed Rafikov.
Regardless, when he was recovered from the crash site, unharmed, it was clear that he'd become something more than human. Months of testing then ensued, revealing that he had developed enormous, physics-defying strength, flesh and bone that were incredibly resistant to injury, eyesight that could accurately perceive objects at a distance of miles, and the ability to fly (and survive flying) at supersonic speeds. Intended as a much more
visible example of the New Soviet Man, he was given months of training in the use of these powers ... months that resulted in his debut, as Chelovek-meteor, "Meteor Man", roughly a week after an American superpower known as the Meteor made
his debut.
Being a test pilot is not a job conducive to humility. Much as with surgeons, the absolute self-confidence that it takes to strap oneself into an untested machine designed to push the limits of mechanical ingenuity tends to color one's attitudes when dealing with matters outside of that role, as well. So Chelovek-meteor, on joining the SNM, already had something of an attitude problem, and being forced to take orders from a KGB operative like the Untouchable didn't help matters. Rafikov made no secret of his belief that he should be the head of the Assembly instead, and the two of them clashed repeatedly, though there's no evidence that they ever came to blows -- of course, given that Sychkin could easily have avoided any of Rafikov's blows, that's not saying much.
In any event, matters began to change for him in 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Observing the blockade from a position in the stratosphere, Chelovek-meteor found himself annoyed and disgusted by the proceedings, and decided to intervene. Before he could descend to do so, however, the Meteor, piloting his spaceship, intercepted him, and captured him in its tractor beam after a brief chase. Expecting to be blasted by the ship's cannons, Rafikov was surprised that the Meteor left the safety of his ship to approach him, supply him with an earpiece that facilitated communication, and address him in Russian.
It was a somewhat hostile conversation, at first, but the Meteor's refusal to get angry eventually forced Rafikov to calm down as well, and admit that he was exceeding the orders that he'd been given in a way that would probably not make his superiors happy, even under the best of circumstances. On learning of Chelovek-meteor's grudge against him over their common name, the Meteor offered to change his, since he wasn't attached to it. That startled Rafikov, as did the Meteor's off-hand mention that he certainly didn't consider himself to be the example of American ingenuity that the press made him out to be. In the end, they parted with mutual respect.
But also with something else, something that Rafikov didn't mention to his superiors. That technology of his, that hint -- the only reasonable conclusion that made any sense was that the Meteor was actually from another world, an advanced,
Communist world. And if such a utopia was possible elsewhere, it could happen here as well, as long as the defenders of Marxist-Leninism remained steadfast and cautious, rather than foolishly arrogant. Equipped with this new confidence, Rafikov persuaded the Ministry to change his alias, and so became Krasnya-kometa -- the Red Comet.
He didn't stop squabbling with the Untouchable, of course, since he still believed that he would be a much better leader. And once Pulya joined the group, he had another reason to compete, even though that never went anywhere. But more and more, he focused on just doing his job as best he could, protecting the people of the Union from threats mundane and paranormal, letting his actions speak for him. Ultimately, that led to him saving Sychkin's life during the Battle of Vietnam, flying them both away from Stardust at top speed while the Arachnid bought them both the seconds they needed to get clear with his own life.
The other man never stopped resenting him for that, but Rafikov didn't care. He'd come to a diametrically opposed conclusion about what happened that day. The eventual disappearance of the Meteor confirmed it in his mind; that war had been the tiniest, smallest battle of a war between aggressive capitalism and developing communism that continued, even out among the stars. They'd won, but the universe was filled with threats on Stardust's level. In the face of that, humanity must unite. He would spend the rest of his life pushing for such unity, for peaceful reconciliation with the West and the Chinese.
In 1982, at the start of the Pythonian Insurgency, Krasnya-kometa happened to be in Moscow. While unable to prevent the assassination of the Premier, he was on-sight when a high-yield fuel air explosive was discovered not far from the Kremlin, and flew it into the upper atmosphere. It exploded before he could fling it into orbit, apparently atomizing him. No remains were ever discovered, of course, and there has been speculation that he managed to survive even this, and went into hiding. If so, he has never emerged from it in the past forty years, and it is most likely that he died that day, within an hour of his most bitter rival.
Krasnya-kometa -- PL 10
Abilities:
STR 10 |
STA 10 |
AGL 3 |
DEX 2 |
FGT 6 |
INT 3 |
AWE 2 |
PRE 3
Powers:
Astronomical Vision: Senses 4 (hyper-extended vision 2) - 4 points
Invulnerability: Immunity 10 (life support); Impervious Toughness 10 - 20 points
Meteoric Flight: Flight 11 (4000 MPH) - 22 points
Mighty Power: Enhanced Strength 3, Limited to lifting - 3 points
Advantages:
Extraordinary Effort, Fearless, Improved Initiative, Inspire 2, Interpose, Move-by Action, Power Attack.
Skills:
Close Combat: Unarmed 3 (+9), Expertise: Military 6 (+9), Expertise: Science 5 (+8), Insight 6 (+8), Intimidation 5 (+8), Perception 8 (+10), Technology 5 (+8), Vehicles 8 (+10).
Offense:
Initiative +7
Unarmed +9 (Close Damage 10)
Defense:
Dodge 7, Parry 8, Fortitude 12, Toughness 10, Will 6
Totals:
Abilities 78 + Powers 49 + Advantages 8 + Skills 23 + Defenses 12 = 170 points
Complications:
Responsibility--Motivation. Arrogance (until 1962.)
Rivalry (Neprikasayemyy.)
Tempered Caution (after 1962.)
* He was complicated, okay?