Before its becoming part of the Consortium of Civilized Worlds, the Human Alliance had its own space fighters, tank and power armor design. In general now they mostly operate Consortium designs although they are beginning to consider a new series of designs. Throughout history, there have been various times where the infantry has been considered obsolete but it is always them that have to actually take the ground from the enemy. A starship can isolate a planet but cannot truly control it.

The "Steel Grunt," normally just called the "Grunt" by soldiers was the main power armor design operated by the Human Alliance and was also adopted by the Consortium when formed. It was replaced in both Human Alliance and Consortium military service by the "Ground Pounder" but not until massive numbers of this armor were built. It is said that more "Steel Grunts" were produced than any other kind of power armor. While the "Ground Pounder" replaced the "Grunt" in front line service, the "Grunt" was retained in second line roles. Even today, many planetary defense forces operate the armor and it is among the most common power armor operated by Mercenary Units. Law Enforcement often operates this armor in large number and there are specialize models used for fire fighting and a great many other roles.

In many respects, the "Grunt" is what people of the Consortium think about when they think about power armors much like those of the Coalition on Rifts Earth think of the SAMAS. There are a number of companies which continue to manufacture the "Grunt" both inside the Human Alliance and outside. There is actually two which manufacture the armor right on Center itself. There is also a large industry devoted to upgrading and modifying the armor to be able to deal with the new threats its is forced to face and to adapt it to new roles. Licences for the design have long expired and there are often tools to manufacture these armors available.

In many ways, the "Grunt" can be described as a fairly basic suit of powered armor. In some ways it looks similar to the "Ground Pounder" although it lacks the chest mounted laser and the mortar. It is fitted with a plasma cannon on its arm which pulls power directly from the fusion reactor. It is almost as powerful as the Particle Beam fitted to the "Ground Pounder" but has only around half of the range. It is normally fitted to the right arm but can be switched to the left arm for people who that is their primary arm. The fusion reactor cannot provide enough power to fire two simultaneously. The only other weapon mounted on the armor are mini-missile launchers in the shoulder with three in each shoulder. Otherwise, the armor relies on hand held weaponry and has power hookups to power most energy weapon directly from the armor's reactor. Even though energy weapons are able to be used without limit, rail guns are often carried to deal with targets which are impervious to energy.

The armor lacks jump jets and the ability to either fly or leap any great distances. Top running speed is around 125 kilometers an hour. Armor is lighter than what is mounted on the "Ground Pounder" although the armor can still take an amazing amount of damage. It is not fitted with a force field on the standard model.Due to it lacking the mortar backpack of the Ground "Pounder" the armor is just a bit lighter than the later armor although it is slightly larger in general.

There is a huge number of modified versions of this armor available and upgrades available. There are armor add-ons available, upgraded weaponry, and of course force field generators. Sensor upgrades are available along with jump gear. There are so many modified versions of the armor available that it is virtually impossible to list them all. Law enforcement versions are often fitted with warning lights and a siren. Various non-lethal equipment is also common. Fire fighting units are often fitted with warning lights and a siren as well but they usually are fitted with foam and chemical dispensers.

Model Type: HAFA-PA-06
Class: Ground Infantry Assault Exo-Skeleton
Crew: One

M.D.C. by Location:

	Shoulder Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	40 each
	Plasma Cannon (Right Arm):	60
	Arms (2):	120 each
	Legs (2):	150 each
	[1] Head:	100
	[2] Main Body	340

Notes:
[1] Note that the Head is -4 in addition to normal called shot penalties to hit. Destroying the head will expose the pilot's head, leaving only the pilot's body armor helmet as its only protection. Note: The head is a small and difficult target to hit. Thus, it can only be hit when a character makes a called shot and even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] Depleting the Main Body M.D.C. will shut the Steel Grunt down making it useless.

Speed:
Running: 77.7 mph (125 kph) maximum unloaded. Note that the act of running does tire out its operator, but at a fatigue rare of 10% of normal thanks to the robot exo-skeleton.
Leaping: The powerful robot legs can leap up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) high or across if the armor is unloaded. Add 10 feet (3 meters) with a running start. Note that leaping height and distance on the moon and micro gravity is doubled.
Underwater: The armor can also walk along the bottom of the sea at about 25% of its normal running speed with a maximum depth of 1,000 feet (310 m).
Maximum Effective Range: The Armor's range is virtually unlimited.

Statistical Data:
Height: 9.6 feet (2.93 meters)
Width: 4.8 feet (1.46 meters)
Length: 3.6 feet (1.10 meters)
Weight: 1,765 lbs (800 kg) without any additional equipment
Physical Attributes of Note: Equal to a PS 40
Cargo: None but can carry small equipment
Power System: Advanced Fusion; Average energy life is 10 years
Market Cost: A standard suit costs around 2.5 million credits. An older reconditioned suit (subtract 2D4x10 M.D.C. from main body) can cost 600,000 to 1.5 million depending on condition. Various upgraded models can costs several times more.

Weapons Systems:

1. Forearm Plasma Cannon: The right arm has a powerful plasma cannon mounted in it. It can be fitted to the left arm although two cannot be mounted at the same time due to power requirements. Power is provided by the armor's fusion reactor. The plasma cannon does not have the range of the Particle Beam carried on the "Ground Pounder" but is almost as powerful as the particle beam.
   Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters) in an atmosphere. Range is eight times normal when used in space.
   Mega-Damage: 1D6x10+10 per blast
   Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks of pilot (usually 4-6).
   Payload: Effectively unlimited.
2. Shoulder Mini-Missile Launchers (2): In each shoulder of the armor are three mini-missile launchers with the ability to fire up to six mini-missiles as a single volley. A shield comes down to protect the launchers when no being fired. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Three Galaxy Mini-Missiles are normally guided.
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space.
   Mega Damage: As per Mini-Missile Type (See Phase World Missiles).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volley of two, three, four, or six.
   Payload: Three in each launcher for six total
3. Energy Rifles, Rail Guns, and other hand-held weapons can be substituted in an emergency or used as a back-up weapon. Space limitations and the bulk of the armor limit additional weapons to one rifle and one pistol. The most common rifles are the HI-80 Laser Combat Rifle or the GR-15AR Gravity Rail Gun.

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2008, Kitsune. All rights reserved.