V5.00ˆò7GriffinGRF-3Tò l“QA †D †D0A0A @MM 4 5 3 2 2— 5J   :Donala Delta Dart8Diverse Optics Type 188 ::: aañ ñ    âÿ³pOnce the heaviest and most powerful assault BattleMech in existence, the first Griffin and her upgraded cousins have spent more than half a millenium as premier command 'Mechs in the armies of the Human Sphere. Even though more powerful BattleMechs have replaced her assault role, the Griffin has continued to be used as a command BattleMech in Taurian heavy and medium lances. Mounting heavy firepower capable of crippling and killing enemies at long ranges, it is still mobile enough to keep up with most lighter 'Mechs and to easily outmanuever those of similar weight. In addition, its large cockpit easily allows room for the extra displays that a command BattleMech requires to do its job fully, while still allowing the MechWarrior to stretch out in comfort. Because of this high profile use throughout the Taurian Defense Forces, the Griffin was the first BattleMech upgraded with the modern technologies rediscovered by Taurian scientists. The military projected that upgrading this single design would have a far greater affect on TDF combat capabilities than any other single design. Designed to be mass produced, the GRF-3T is not even 400,000 C-Bills more expensive than the GRF-1N they produced before, while heavily increasing its combat potential. This keeps it a very inexpensive BattleMech to build, and has allowed the TDF to deploy it throughout the space they control in a mere five years. In addition, GRF-1Ns can be easily upgraded to the GRF-3T version, and upgrade kits have been shipped to the vast majority of Taurian units, making the GRF-3T one of the more common designs seen by enemies of the Concordat.èStill mounting a single particle cannon and the same LRM launcher as before, the 3T gains useable weight by pulling the old engine out and replacing it with one designed to use the new freezer heat sinks. This allows the removal of extra heat sinks and the inclusion of a medium laser on the 3T's left arm. In addition, CASE is wrapped around the LRM ammo bins to keep them from destroying the BattleMech should it cook off. With the medium laser in the left arm, this allows a Griffin 3T to continue fighting or to retreat while firing even should it lose its entire right side to such a catastrophe. The final upgrade is the removal of all standard armor, replacing it with Ferro-Fibrous armor. This light armor covers the BattleMech with greater protection, allowing it to take far more punishment than older Griffins. This has surprised many enemies expecting a Griffin to fall earlier, helping them to turn the tide of many battles that would otherwise have gone badly for the Concordat.ÐThe Concordat Commandos were given the first run of Griffin 3Ts in 3053 and quickly moved to test them out against the pirates of the Haven Star Cluster. There Subaltern Monty Scott detected and corrected a number of problems in "the cheap excuse for battlefield technology the military politics forced on her" during the long posting, and lead his company to victory over the pirates on Althea's Choice. Due to his feedback, several contractors were cut with extreme prejudice from the upgrade project and replaced with companies he suggested. They have proven capable of meeting the demands of the Griffin upgrade and the Sublatern is currently on the fast track to being given a battalion command in the Commandos. Subaltern Monty Scott A company commander in the Concordat Commandos, Montgomery no longer pilots the prototype Griffin 3T he was given in 3053, having returned it to Illiushin for the engineers to study his changes. Instead he pilots his family's old Griffin, having upgraded it to the new 3T stats on his own time. Reports are that he has continued to tweak it over the years, sending back continued reports and suggestions to Vandenberg Mechanized Industries. Many of them have been incorporated into upgrade packages and routine maintenance kits over the years. Some reports suggest that he has been able to increase the range of his particle cannon and laser during his constant work, but he has remained tight-lipped on his progress. Still, more than one enemy pilot captured by him has sworn that they were out of effective range when Montgomery blew their BattleMechs into tiny little pieces. He claims he is simply good at "shooting those miserable excuses for pilots who don't know how to pilot a BattleMech."4While the Commandos continue to boast the largest concentration of 3Ts in the Concordat, they can be seen in command positions in nearly every TDF regiment, and even some noble regiments. As the first modern upgrade of a TDF design, the GRF-3T has proven to be every bit as successful as her backers wished.  =C:\Program Files\HeavyMetal\Pro\Bmps\Unseen\3025 Griffin1.JPG Vandenberg Mechanized IndustriesIlliushin / TC (VMI)VOXDurallex Super Medium with CASE Earthwerk GRF Neil 9000-AOctagon Tartrac System C Rawlings 55