User:Impurest Cheese/Granchio Warfare


 * The Granchio are a race designed for conflict with their environment thanks to the biological advantages they evolved. As such especially when coupled with their hive mentality they are eager and well motivated soldiers, with a vast array of weapons, vehicles and equipment to aid them in combat.

Biological Advantages

 * Due to there arthropod ancestry the Granchio have certain strengths and weakness when compared to stranded vertebrate troops. In addition since all modern Granchio troops are from military castes and have their growth accelerated large numbers can be fielded with the average soldier fully combat ready in just two and a half years compared to the eighteen years for the standard UNSC marine to reach maturity let alone be trained to peak combat efficacy. Both UNSC and Covenant observers have noted that the Granchio are a silent unthinking army due to their apparent lack of communication. Despite their claims the Granchio are almost constantly communicating with pheromones issued from Commander Granchio and Sub Commanders allowing the army to adapt on the move in just a few seconds. While the army as a whole is very flexible the individual infantry man is a rigid unit which although promotes specialization within a field also means that when placed in a role they are unfamiliar with the unit will not work as efficiently. To remedy this problem units of generalists are breed which have a wide range of training but are kept out of specialist roles.

Shell Armor

 * The shell of a Granchio is formed out of Calcium Carbonate which proves a durable layer over the softer skin that grows underneath. The use of this shell as basic battle armor has been tested when worker castes are levied into combat service, although such practices are rare after the Summer of Peace. The shells are able to repel or absorb the impact of the small dart style ammunition favoured by the Granchio and are mildly resistant to plasma fire and bullet type ammunition used by surface troops and the UNSC. Cutting weapons such as blades and spears are more able to damage the outer layer of the shell but it takes either a powerful individual or a well constructed blade, such as the Energy Sword to reach the soft flesh underneath.


 * While durable the shell of the Granchio was rigid, except in the areas where movement occurred such as the arms, legs and tail, making it vulnerable to blunt force trauma. While the blow of a fist or a hit from a rifle did little damage any force over a certain PSI would crack open the shell. Weapons such as the Gravity Hammer were considered invaluable during the Covenant Invasion of Clax for this very reason. Armor piercing bullets such as those used by the SRS99C-S2 AM Sniper Rifle and the H72 Anti Tank Rifle were able to penetrate the shells of the Granchio much easier then other small arms. Turret weapons practically those with large magazines, explosive ammo and rapid fire were also effective weapons against the Granchio. Apart from the rigidity of the armor the only other weak point of the Granchio armor was the mouth with a bullet or blade able to easily penetrate into the brain. Due to this many marine castes of Granchio wore mandible armor to increase the protection of this area.

Hive System

 * “The aboriginal fighters attacked our noble attempt with no fear for their own safety as we cut through their ranks with blade and bullet. As they fell more came swarming over the barriers driven on by the drums and some desire to fell as many of our glorious covenant as they could, This attack lasted three hours with the ranks of our enemies depleted and routed while our comrades were laid to rest in the rapidly over-flowing cemetery dug in the north corner of our stronghold. The Unggoy believe that our enemies are with-out fear but conversations with the Sangheili command has confirmed that our enemies were driven on by duty not bravery. While this excites those around me I wonder why any warrior would sacrifice himself when his cause would gain little. As such my musings have been less then popular with the commander who would rather hear tales that strengthen the blood then those that define and describe our enemy.” From the Musings of Jontureum Volume 4


 * As mentioned by Jontureum while the Granchio seem to lack fear they are driven on by the will of the hive. While this causes the army to be completely loyal and dedicated large amounts of lives can be lost in prolonged sieges due to the soldiers following the orders with no regard for their safety. While the Granchio follow orders without question they are free to do this in any way as long as their objective is completed in a way seen as satisfactory be the commanding aspect. Such orders are transmitted by the release of pheromones and the clicking of mandibles which is the only time the Granchio make a sound in battle.

Defensive Skewer

 * All Granchio with the exception of the Sappers and Spies, who are armed with small but powerful claws, are equipped with a blade like digit that can extend to lengths of eleven inches. This skewer is made from a bone like composite material that is strong enough to cut through the armor of other Granchio and even penetrate hardened plastics and aluminium. The skewer is usually hidden as a digit under the three normal fingers but is completely rigid meaning the blade itself can not be moved around. As such every Granchio is armed with a portable armor piercing spike meaning even the worker castes, which are not usually a threat, can kill an armoured enemy such as an Elite. The blade is moved by sets of muscles relaxing pushing the blade out to its full length while muscle contraction pulls the blade back into the body. This was originally a reflex reaction to increased adrenaline pumped into the blood but in modern combat troops is controlled by simply relaxing the muscles in the hand. As such the skewer is the counterpart for the UNSC Combat Knife as an assassin’s tool and as a weapon of last resort. Regeneration time for a broken skewer is around a month although this can cause deformities in the structure leading to some interesting mutations.

Combat uses for the Granchio Blade

 * The skewer of the Granchio while most commonly used in battle as a rigid digit to aid in grasping a weapon was also used as an anti-personnel weapon. Close Quarters fighting often involved the skewer being used like a Trench Spike to penetrate armoured enemies. In enemies with strong armor or who were skilled in close combat the Granchio employed the standard military combat style which involved using the fist, elbow and spike to continuously hammer an enemies weak point until a killing blow could be landed. The spike could also be used as a crude amputation tool for those allies whose arm was too damaged to be further use so a new limb could be re-grown faster. Some Granchio after having their spikes damaged ended up with a mutated construct that covered the hand and lower arm in a bony shield. This weapon could be used defensively in close combat as well as a cutting/bludgeoning instrument although it was too fragile to be used to deflect bullets. The brute sub caste of the soldier caste had a claw similar to the Granchio Guards or Gladiators which was used in battle as a club instead of a blade. Both claw types, along with the ‘Red Eye’ Spear Gun were used as primary weapons in silent raids against the enemy as well as in assassinations.