==Overview:==
Three years after Taurus Territorial Industries unveiled their new Bandit
class BattleMech as part of Project 3000, Pinard Protectorates Limited
released the first prototypes of their own Grenadier. Immediately,
accusations were hurled at PPL executives by the Board of Taurus Territorial
that the basic design had been stolen from their own data-banks; a charge
which Pinard executives furiously denied.
The bad blood between the two rival corporations came to a boil when TTI
appeared before the Concordat Courts seeking an injunction to prevent Pinard
from producing and selling additional Grenadiers. TDF Liason officers for
both manufacturers were called in to brief the Court, and internal documents
were examined. Sitting in closed session, the members of the Court reviewed
the schematics and designs of both the Bandit and the Grenadier, and called
for testimony from every single member of both design teams.
Taurus Territorial were rather pleased when the Court called Hyam Lassiter--a
former member of Team Bandit who had left the company in 2982; and shortly
thereafter accepted a posistion with Pinard working on their new Grenadier.
Internal TTI memos and reports showed that Lassiter and a small minority of
the Taurus Territorial design team had advocated a different approach with the
Bandit from the very beginning of the design. Their concept, which included
preliminary stage blue-prints, removed the Hamilton Liftjet jump-jets in favor
of a larger and more robust weapons battery and was eerily similar to the
final configuration of the Pinard Grenadier.
Meanwhile, Pinard documents revealed that within weeks of Lassiter beginning
his work at Pinard, the engineering team working on the Grenadier began to
incorporate into their own early design exactly the same changes he had
proposed with the TTI Bandit! Lawyers for Taurus Territorial argued to the
Court that Lassiter had illegally taken copies of his earlier design work on
the Bandit and used that work in building the Pinard Grenadier.
After three weeks of testimony and investigation by the Courts, the members
called Hyram Lassiter forward to testify. Once sworn, he stated for the
record that the design of the Grenadier was his, and that yes, it was in fact
much the same as the design he had proposed while working for Taurus
Territorial. But he asserted a claim that since TTI had rejected his design
(his original intellectual property), they had no ownership or stake in that
design once he had left their employment. TTI's attorneys, on the other hand,
argued that everything Lassiter had developed and proposed while working for
Taurus Territorial was in effect the intellectual property of TTI, not Hyram
Lassiter. Being under contract to the corporation, Lassiter waived the
ownership of any intellectual properties for all work done in conjunction with
an official TTI development project.
The Court, having taken the testimony of all witness, was preparing to adjourn
for deliberations when a messenger arrived. The Protector of the Concordat
(in person, no less!) was waiting outside the court-room and wished to testify
before the members. Taken aback, the members of the Court confered, and then
decided to allow his testimony.
On the witness stand, the Protector discussed the beginnings of Project 3000
and his call for the Big Three to design a series of 'Mechs for the Defense
Force that used common components. Producing memos and documents from those
early meetings as evidence, he then went on to say that what Pinard had
created--regardless of how that creation had come about--fufilled his orders
to the letter. More than 95% of the parts of the Grenadier was fully
compatible and interchangable with those of the Bandit. Furthermore, they had
produced a 'Mech design that the Defense Force needed, one that Taurus
Territorial had shelved and chosen not to produce.
Lassiter, he said, should not have taken his design to Pinard; but he did.
And in doing so, had greatly aided the Concordat in its ability to defend
itself. He asked the members of the Court, in the name of national security,
to dismiss the case against Pinard and lift the injunction against the
production of the Grenadier. Then, his testimony complete, the Protector
walked out from the court-room and returned to his Palace on Taurus.
Much to the horror of Taurus Territorial, the Court agreed with the Protector.
With a 4-3 decision, they ruled that Pinard could continue full production of
the Grenadier; although they did advise the Board of Taurus Territorial that a
civil suite aimed personnally against Hyram Lassiter would be considered in a
different light.
Pinard resumed production of the Grenadier and the TDF were soon afterwards
fielding a new and effective design. Two months later, the same Court found
Lassiter at fault in a civil suit and stripped him of all of his finances,
awarding nearly 32 million Bulls to Taurus Territorial in compensation.
Furthermore, the Court held that all future earnings of Monsieur Lassiter were
to be levied, and that anything greater than a monthly income of 2,500 Bulls
be garnished and transferred to TTI.
While his design was a success, Hyram Lassiter became a broken and embittered
man. He blamed the Court's ruling and the Taurus Territorial Board for the
failure of his marriage; he blamed Pinard and its executives for not defending
his case after their own was won; but most of all, he blamed the Protector of
the Taurian Concordat for ruining his life. His autobiography--They Are All
Crooks--was a major best-seller, but TTI received nearly 100% of those profits
as well. Hyram Lassiter committed suicide on August 23, 3012 in his apartment
on Jamestown. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.
==Capabilities:==
Using the same 30-ton frame, 180 GM fusion engine, and Renault Composite 104
armor as the highly successful Bandit, the Grenadier was a solid and capable
light unit. Communications and targeting systems were likewise identical to
the Taurus Territorial product, with the only difference being additional
software to handle the burden of the added weapon systems.
Foregoing the inclusion of jump-jets, Pinard was able to save three tons of
mass for a greater array of weaponry on the new 'Mech. In the standard model,
this allowed the Grenadier to carry a Martin-Gordan Rapier medium laser in the
right arm, twin Hyades Weapons Consortium Reaper machine-guns in the left arm,
and two Aurora Missiliers Foxglove SRM-4 launchers, one each in the right and
left torso. Ample ammunition was supplied as well, with 100 bursts for the
Reapers and 50 missile salvoes for the Foxgloves.
Featuring much the same firepower as the Commando, but with added utility
against infantry and heavier armor protection, the Grenadier was soon a
success. Although produced in less quantity than the Bandit, the hard-hitting
and capable striker produced by Pinard quickly became a commonly encountered
sight in TDF 'Mech formations.
==Battle History:==
A relatively new design, the Grenadier has yet to be invovled in anything more
than small-scale skirmishes against pirate raiders. The TDF expects for the
capable design to prove highly effective once it does enter a major conflict.
==Variants:==
In addition to the standard model (the -1A), Pinard produced three additional
models in limited quantities.
The model -2A replaced the Foxglove SRM launchers with a pair of Aurora
Missiliers Privet LRM-5 launchers and two magazines, each with 24 salvoes of
long-range missiles. Intended to provide long-range fire support, the -2A
compared quite well against the Davion Valkyrie in service.
Model -3A is the rarest of the four production models. This version replaced
one Foxglove launcher and ammo magazine with a Privet and its associated
magazine, but retained the second Foxglove. With a mixed battery of short-
and long-range missiles, plus the medium laser and machine-guns it also
carried, the -3A proved an extraordinarily effective multi-role design capable
of filling nearly every function in a light lance. Although successful, fewer
of the -3As were produced as the TDF preferred using the more specialized -1A
and -2A in general service.
The -4A model is perhaps the most unique of the Grenadier line. Both missile
launchers and their magazines were removed from the torsos, along with the
Martin-Gordan Rapier from the right arm. A single High Energy Systems Corona
PPC was then installed in the right arm. Lacking any secondary weapons except
for the pair of Reaper machine-guns, critics of the -4A claimed that
battlefield damage could quickly render this BattleMech useless. But the TDF
disagreed. The novelty of a 30-ton 'Mech carrying a PPC (and moving at 97.2
kilometers per hour to boot!) with its ability to strike targets hard at
long-range made the model -4A Grenadier a fearsome foe on the modern
battlefield. No additional heat sinks were mounted, causing pilots assigned
to the -4A to closely watch their gauges, but firing the Corona results in
just excess movement heat build-up, which TDF procurement agents considered as
acceptable.
==Notable 'Mechs & MechWarriors:==
Marquess Erin Galloway earned her title as a member of the Taurian nobility
through her service as a Captain in the Defense Forces. During an action
against Capellan raiders on Brinton in 2992, she--at the helm of her Wasp
class BattleMech--single-handedly managed to destroy the supplies and
munitions depot providing support for the Blackwind Lancers. Unfortunately,
she was also critically wounded during the battle, losing not only her 'Mech,
but requiring the amputation of both legs above the knee.
In 2999, an admirer presented the Marquess with a gift--one of the new Pinard
Grenadiers customized specifically for her disability. All controls and
pedals previously requiring the use of the legs had been rewired to levers and
circuitry arrayed around her cockpit. The Grenadier had been chosen for this
conversion because of the tremendous difficulties in undertaking the refit
with jump-capable BattleMechs.
The 35-year old noble was stunned with the gift. For the first time since her
injury and disability, she was able to take command of a BattleMech and act as
though she was not crippled. Erin quickly raised a company of BattleMechs as
part of the Galloway Noble Regiment and she herself led them in field
exercises and defensive patrols of her homeworld of Janson's Hold.
In 3002, she discovered the identity of her mysterious benefactor: Thomas
Caroll, also of Janson's Hold. The nephew of Pinard Protectorates magnate
Nevil Caroll, Thomas was not merely a man of wealth, but one of class as well.
From afar, he had fallen in love with the Marquess as he watched her organize
her lands and help the people of her world despite her missing legs. Other
people would have, perhaps, surrendered to despair, but not Erin Galloway, and
that trait was what made Thomas love her.
Three years later, the two were married; and while Erin never quit leading her
company in the field, she somehow found the time to bear and raise four
children. Marquess Galloway died of natural causes in early 3025 at the age
of sixty-three, leaving behind her widowed husband, four children, and
seventeen grandchildren. Her GND-3A Grenadier, "Second Chance" passed into
the hands of her youngest daughter.
==Deployment==
It is a rare TDF Battalion that does not contain at least a quartet of
Grenadiers. While the Bandit is generally preferred by Taurian MechWarriors,
the hard-hitting Grenadier is reasonably common. Typically, medium-weight
companies built around the Fusilier, Predator, and Typhoon class BattleMechs
of Project 3000 will include a lance of Grenadiers as their recon/scouting
element. Light companies of non-jump 'Mechs will often have as many as eight
Grenadiers and four Patriots to form a fast-moving and powerful strike force.
Additionally, several dozen Grenadiers have been made available for export;
primarily to the Magistracy of Canopus and the Outworlds Alliance, but a
handful have made their way into the Inner Sphere as well. Mercenary units
using the Grenadier agree that the design is quite capable of holding its own
against the more common 'Mechs encountered there.
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-1A
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2987
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Concordat Light 30 Standard
Power Plant: 180 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Renault Composite 104 Standard
Armament:
1 Martin Gordan Rapier Medium Laser
2 Hyades Weapons Consortium Reaper Machine Guns
2 Aurora Missiliers Foxglove SRM 4s
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates Limited
Location: Pinard
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm IVIS Mk IX
Targeting & Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Silver
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-1A
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Standard 0 3.00
Engine: 180 Fusion 6 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 3 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 1 HD, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H R: Sh+UA+LA+H 16 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 14
Center Torso (Rear): 5
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00
2 Machine Guns LA 0 100 3 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 LA)
1 SRM 4 RT 3 50 3 4.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT)
1 SRM 4 LT 3 1 2.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 9 42 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 36 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,166,190 C-Bills
Battle Value: 544
Cost per BV: 3,981.97
Weapon Value: 363 / 363 (Ratio = .67 / .67)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 13; MRDmg = 2; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/3
Damage PB/M/L: 3/2/-, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 5
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-2A
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Concordat Light 30 Standard
Power Plant: 180 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Renault Composite 104 Standard
Armament:
1 Martin Gordan Rapier Medium Laser
2 Hyades Weapons Consortium Reaper Machine Guns
2 Aurora Missiliers Privet LRM 5s
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates Limited
Location: Pinard
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm IVIS Mk IX
Targeting & Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Silver
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-2A
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Standard 0 3.00
Engine: 180 Fusion 6 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 3 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 1 HD, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H R: Sh+UA+LA+H 16 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 14
Center Torso (Rear): 5
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00
2 Machine Guns LA 0 100 3 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 LA)
1 LRM 5 RT 2 48 3 4.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT)
1 LRM 5 LT 2 1 2.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 7 42 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 36 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,095,990 C-Bills
Battle Value: 582
Cost per BV: 3,601.36
Weapon Value: 352 / 352 (Ratio = .60 / .60)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 9; MRDmg = 5; LRDmg = 3
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/3
Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/1, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 6
Specials: if
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-3A
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Concordat Light 30 Standard
Power Plant: 180 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Renault Composite 104 Standard
Armament:
1 Martin Gordan Rapier Medium Laser
2 Hyades Weapons Consortium Reaper Machine Guns
1 Aurora Missiliers Foxglove SRM 4
1 Aurora Missiliers Privet LRM 5
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates Limited
Location: Pinard
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm IVIS Mk IX
Targeting & Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Silver
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-3A
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Standard 0 3.00
Engine: 180 Fusion 6 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 3 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 1 HD, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H R: Sh+UA+LA+H 16 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 14
Center Torso (Rear): 5
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00
2 Machine Guns LA 0 100 3 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 LA)
1 SRM 4 RT 3 25 2 3.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 LRM 5 LT 2 24 2 3.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 LT)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 8 42 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 36 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,131,090 C-Bills
Battle Value: 571
Cost per BV: 3,732.21
Weapon Value: 357 / 357 (Ratio = .63 / .63)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 11; MRDmg = 4; LRDmg = 1
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/3
Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 6
BattleMech Technical Readout
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-4A
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Concordat Light 30 Standard
Power Plant: 180 GM Fusion
Walking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor Type: Renault Composite 104 Standard
Armament:
1 High Energy Systems Corona PPC
2 Hyades Weapons Consortium Reaper Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates Limited
Location: Pinard
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm IVIS Mk IX
Targeting & Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Silver
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Grenadier GND-4A
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Standard 0 3.00
Engine: 180 Fusion 6 7.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 3 .00
(Heat Sink Loc: 1 HD, 1 LL, 1 RL)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
Actuators: L: Sh+UA+LA+H R: Sh+UA+LA 15 .00
Armor Factor: 104 pts Standard 0 6.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 14
Center Torso (Rear): 5
L/R Side Torso: 7 10/10
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 10/10
L/R Leg: 7 14/14
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 PPC RA 10 3 7.00
2 Machine Guns LA 0 100 3 1.50
(Ammo Locations: 1 LA)
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 10 39 30.00
Crits & Tons Left: 39 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,144,870 C-Bills
Battle Value: 639
Cost per BV: 3,356.6
Weapon Value: 414 / 414 (Ratio = .65 / .65)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 9; MRDmg = 6; LRDmg = 2
BattleForce2: MP: 6, Armor/Structure: 3/3
Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/1, Overheat: 0
Class: ML; Point Value: 6
