Armaments:
2 x "Hightower" Mega Particle Cannon, mounted on backpack at ends of shoulders.
1 x M-94J Anti-Ship Sword, mounted on left hip.
1 x MRB-110 Extended Range Beam Rifle, stored on right hip.
1 x Knuckle Shield, medium shield carried in free hand with spiked end.
Story:
By the Third Space War, mobile suit development and production had gone from a clandestine government enterprise to a full-blown industry. Several private companies had, for almost a decade, taken advantage of the turbulent period between the second and third wars by creating and marketing their own mobile weapons to public organizations. Independent nations on Earth, space colonies, mercenaries, and even a number of corporations and security firms had access to these weapons, which were often as powerful as mainstream military models. One of the more unknown, but nevertheless effective, machines produced right before the third war was Gunslinger Co.'s Griever. The company behind was actually a front for a handful of arms dealers whose firms were several generations old, yet still falling behind in the times. The Griever, and designs like it, were intended to be their big break on to a scene that had long been dominated by "upstarts" like the Armatech Syndicate.
Knowing that they were not ready to cater to the kind of mass production markets that Armatech had a strangle-hold on, the companies behind Gunslinger Co. built the Griever, and its
derivatives, as specialized combat units. The Griever itself was designated as a field commander's unit, and was given a number of sophisticated electronics to that effect. In addition, and most of its frame, was built around a pair of powerful mega particle cannons. These weapons remain among the most effective that a mobile suit can carry. Their range and striking power were intended to allow an officer to participate in combat from the safety of a distance. Likewise, the anti-ship sword was included to take down foes with one slice, or allow commanders to delegate themselves to the "safe" task of sinking enemy vessels. In addition, the suit was given powerful verniers which made it exceptionally agile in space, and allowed it to hover over terrain on Earth.
Unfortunately, the Griever did not help Gunslinger Co. make many gains on the arms market. While it sold in modest number to a few North and South American governments, its creators were unable to break into further markets. As a result, in the post-war era, the Griever is uncommon, though a few have turned up in the ranks of the New Alliance. Generally, these machines are appreciated by skilled pilots, who can use their normally cumbersome heavy weapons with impressive
finesse in mobile suit dogfights. Granted, despite its performance, in the end, the Griever really boasts nothing special, especially when compared to the numerous mobile weapon variants and prototypes left behind by the Newtype Corps.
Pilot(s): Isaac Winter (aka Sean Carver), Brad Davis
