compiled overview of the 80
ton Grand Crusader 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
When
Precentor Martial Arian assumed command of the
Word of Blake Militia in 3052, his forces were in sorry shape. Initially,
ComStar had not protested when dissident
Com Guard MechWarriors took their equipment when they left their ranks. Later, stricter guidelines enforced by the
Com Guards virtually cut off the flow of defecting
BattleMechs from the Guards to the
Word of Blake. A few Level II units left as a group, but the battered condition of their
'Mechs and other equipment after the fighting on
Tukayyid meant that the
Word of Blake inherited more problems than solutions.
Arian commissioned several
'Mech designs to replenish his militia's ranks. He negotiated a contract with
Gibson Federated BattleMech Works to construct the new
'Mechs, promising that the
Word of Blake would underwrite production costs and allow the designs to be sold on the open market.
Gibson Federated agreed.
Though called
Grand Crusader, this
BattleMech bears little resemblance to the traditional
Crusader.
Precentor Blane christened the
'Mech from a passage of
Jerome Blake's works that states, " ...those who fight to preserve technology and knowledge are the grandest crusaders of all."
The
Grand Crusader's massive, barrel-chested profile harkens back to old designs such as the
Awesome and the
Mackie. This image is enhanced by the large smokestack-like
pylons rising from the
'Mech's back. Although these devices contribute to the
Grand Crusader's
steam age appearance, they are actually sophisticated sensor arrays that are tied into the
Artemis IV fire control system.
Mounting two
Tronel PPI-20 Large Pulse Lasers and twin
Holly LRM-20 packs, the
Grand Crusader can cripple its
opposition at long range. However, the
'Mech's
heat sinks cannot cope with the heat generated by firing all these weapons at once.
For defense, the
Grand Crusader mounts a
Lindblad Shotgun Anti-Missle System on a pivot point on top of the
cockpit.
Blind spots on the sides of the
'Mech's lower legs and its rear pose a problem in using the
Anti-Missle System to repel
Elemental attacks; however, the
Word of Blake has no intention of sending its
Grand Crusaders against
the Clans for many years, allowing plenty of time to correct this oversight.
The
Grand Crusader arrived in the
Word of Blake's First Division in the late fall of 3053. In subsequent years, the Word of Blake Militia has continued to bolster its divisions with this exceptional new assault
'Mech.
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