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 configuration) one hundred troops and their equipment
The specialized avionics package aboard the ''Gridrunner'' is priced at roughly
▲There are six 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'').
There are two special versions known:
In addition, the ''Gridrunner'' tasked for Legion use is an advanced version of the Mark V. Reverse-engineered and upgraded by USAES engineering and aviation cadets in cooperation with Quest Corporation technical staff, the ' ''Gridrunner-A'' ' is the most advanced version of the craft to date, with a significantly-reduced price-tag even with her radically-advanced features). At an estimated cost of just under one-quarter 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 ''Gridrunner-A'':▼
▲
*Ease of operation: any pilot with experience in flying military craft can easily learn to handle the aircraft.▼
▲*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.)
*The aircraft has the capability to carry 2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_fuel_tank conformal fuel tanks], allowing extended range.
*An exotic 'power conversion chamber' has been created for installation, which will allow Legionnaires with the appropriate ablities to act as a 'power source' to allow the ''Gridrunner-A'' to travel into space. The craft has the ability to make a trip to the Moon and return to Earth.▼
▲*An exotic 'power conversion chamber' has been created for installation, which will allow Legionnaires with the appropriate
*The ''Gridrunner-A'' is also equipped with a unique 'atmospheric processor unit', which can create breathable gases and regulate the environment within the craft. When in use, both the PCC and the APU gives the craft an effectively unlimited operational capability (based upon the nutritional needs of the crew and passengers). ▼
*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
*The craft also has a small [[Salazarium]]-based artificial gravity generator installed aboard. The AG-generator works by artificially 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 phone booth, 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 three persons at a time can be rescued and brought aboard the ''Gridrunner''.▼
*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
*The ''Gridrunner-A'' 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 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.)▼
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 artificially 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 [[Psychon-class devices|Mark 5 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 phone booth, which can either allow the ''Gridrunner-OTS'' to connect with a spacecraft or the
▲*The ''Gridrunner-
*To remain in compliance with international treaties, the ''Gridrunner-OTS'' is not armed.
*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.
▲*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 radius of 6000 meters. The masers are designed so that they can be recessed into the craft, and are not readily visible as weapons.
The Legion has
[[Category: Alternate Universe Equipment]]
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