Gridrunner: Difference between revisions
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Officially categorized as the 'Quest Corporation Global Rapid Infantry Deployment Craft, Mark II', the ''Gridrunner'' is a ultratech recon/transport craft with V/STOL/trans-atmospheric capability, a top-rated speed of Mach 10 and a cruising speed of Mach 7. It is able to place or retrieve troops anywhere on the planet within ninety minutes.
With a estimated cost of one billion dollars per craft, the ''Gridrunner'' can carry (in its original
The specialized avionics package aboard the ''Gridrunner'' is priced at roughly
▲There are five variants of the ''Gridrunner'' in existance:
*Mark II - standard troop transport with specialized seating for high-G maneuvers at transonic speed.
▲*Mark I - the prototype (three in existance).
*Mark
*Mark IV - multi-role assault craft; modified with a specialized weapons-bay that can be deployed at trans-sonic speeds (not above Mach 6). Can carry strategic ordinance if required.
Two additional craft are in development using Gridrunner technology. One is a heavy transport with approximately twice the capacity, 200 troops or four vehicles (''Gridrunner-H''). The other is a smaller personal transport along the lines of a Gulfstream or Learjet, proposed to cruise at Mach 3.5 and maximum of Mach 5 (''Gridrunner Slipstream'').
In addition, the ''Gridrunner'' tasked for Legion use is an advanced version of the Mark II. At an estimated cost of 2.4 billion dollars, she is faster (cruising speed of Mach 8), has a more advanced onboard A.I., sensory/communications-electrical countermeasures and electrical warfare package, and comes with the capability to operate outside the Earth's atmosphere. Among the enhanced capabilities of the advanced Gridrunner:▼
There are two special versions known:
▲
*Ease of operation: any pilot with experience in flying military craft can easily learn to handle the aircraft. (This enhanced capability was retrofitted to include ''all'' versions of the aircraft class.)
*
*An exotic 'power conversion chamber' has been created for installation, which will allow Legionnaires with the appropriate abilities to act as a 'power source' to allow the ''Gridrunner-A'' to operate even without fuel. Due to the nature of the chamber, Legionnaires with appropriate abilities can channel them into/through the vessel, allowing the ''Gridrunner-A'' conditional defensive measures/functions such as cloaking, invisibility and energy shields.
*The craft has inertial dampening field generators, which can counteract 90% of the force imparted upon the craft's occupants due to
*The ''Gridrunner-A'' is equipped with a unique 'atmospheric processor unit', which can create breathable gases and regulate the environment within the craft.
*The craft can carry up to four 'compliance chambers' - phone booth-sized chambers that have the same function as the Mark 40 compliance bands (in that they fully dampen the powers of anyone placed inside). If necessary, the prisoner can be kept in a sleep-state by the use of specialized sonic emitters, or restrained by the use of 'confinement mist' canisters inside. These chambers can be used to transport rogue metahumans to secure holding facilities.
*Unlike any other models, the ''Gridrunner-A'' is armed with two forward-mounted internal dual maser emitters (which can be used even at trans-sonic speeds). The masers have an effective range of 6000 meters (or just about three and three-quarter miles) and a maximum range of 8000 meters (or just under five miles). The masers are designed so that they are recessed into the craft and are not readily visible as weapons. The craft are also equipped with two rear-facing internally-mounted single maser emitters. These have an effective range of 2500 meters (or just over one and one-half miles) and a maximum range of 4000 meters (or nearly two and one-half miles).
In a move to capture some of the potentially lucrative commercial space market, a 'Gridrunner-A' variant was built that is capable of achieving low Earth orbit, the ''Gridrunner-OTS'' (Orbital Transport System). This variant uses a combination of mid-air refueling, CFTs and the [[Cradle]] booster system. Unlike most CFT systems, the ''Gridrunner's'' CFT's can be ejected once orbit has been achieved.
*Theoretically, with the 'power conversion chamber', the craft has the ability to make a trip to the Moon and return to Earth. However, this is expected to generate serious exhaustion in those the provide energy. To complete such a journey, upgrades would be needed to the navigation system to operate outside of Earth orbit.
*The craft uses a standard Water Recovery System of the same type used on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station International Space Station]. When in use,the PCC, APU, and WRS give the craft an effectively unlimited operational capability (based upon the nutritional needs of the crew and passengers).
*The craft also has a small [[Salazarium]]-based artificial gravity generator installed aboard. The AG-generator works by
*The craft can carry a 'universal transfer chamber' - a chamber the size of a
▲*it has the capability to carry 2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_fuel_tank conformal fuel tanks], allowing it to achieve low Earth orbit. Unlike most CFT systems, the ''Gridrunner's'' CFT's can be ejected once orgit has been achieved.
*The ''Gridrunner-OTS'' has two additional coats of Secondary Adamantium coating over the hull to further protect the craft from the heat of re-entry caused by friction, and a
*To remain in compliance with international treaties, the ''Gridrunner-OTS'' is not armed.
▲*The craft has inertial dampening field generators, which can counteract 90% of the force imparted upon the craft's occupants due to accleration. The IDF generator uses a great deal of energy, and thus is used only when necessary (ex. on takeoff, landings, and in case of emergency manouvers).
*At the suggestion of Quinn Morgendorffer, the prototype vessel was named the ''Sally Ride'' in honor of the first United States woman to fly in space.
▲*The craft also has a small [[Salazarium]]-based artificial gravity generator installed aboard. The AG-generator works by artifically stimulating the Salazarium inside the device to generate a localized field of graviton particles that act to simulate a near-Earth normal gravitational field throughout the craft. As with the IDF generator, the energy drain is such that it is used only when needed. (Because of the nature of her powers, [[Quinn Morgendorffer]] can interface with a [[modulator cuff]] attached to the generator and provide the device with a conditionally unlimited energy source; also, the cuff allows power to be absorbed from Quinn even when she is asleep or unconscious.)
▲*The craft can carry a 'universal transfer chamber' - a chamber the size of a subcompact car, which can either allow the ''Gridrunner'' to connect with a spacecraft or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station International Space Station], as well as serve as a 'lifepod' that can be attached to the distressed craft so that up to five persons can be rescued and brought aboard the ''Gridrunner''.
▲*The ''Gridrunner'' has two additional coats of Secondary Adamantium coating over the hull to further protect the craft from the heat of re-entry caused by friction, and a single-use force-screen emitter designed as the craft's primary heat during re-entry. (In addition, the on-board systems are all hardened against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse EMP] so that if necessary, [[Jane Lane]] could use her own magnetic force-fields to protect the ship - although, in such a circumstance, she has the ability to return the craft to Earth under her own power. Likewise, [[Mack Mackenzie]]'s solar powers could easily absorb or dissipate the heat build-up during re-entry.)
The Legion has two Mark II and three ''Gridrunner-A'' aircraft at its disposal for official uses. One of the ''Gridrunner-A'' aircraft was destroyed in an attack by Doctor Regulus ([[Janet Barch]], who had begun to use her maiden name and was on a vendetta against [[Mack Mackenzie]]). It has since been replaced.
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