For the duration of Operation Steel Pegasus, the 21st BCT would be divided into two operational groups landing on the south (designated LZ Mustang) and east (designated LZ Blazer) of Chalkeia.
In the early hours of August 9th, 2035, Grant and the rest of the assault force boarded VTOL transports to be airlifted to their designated LZs. However, on the flight towards Chalkeia, they were ambushed by heavy anti-aircraft fire and were forced to crash land into the no man's land on the outskirts of Chalkeia.
The 21st BCT incurred heavy losses and survivors were scattered throughout the area. Grant was one of the few survivors of his VTOL alongside another soldier, Private Harrison Spader. However, PVT Spader had been injured and was knocked unconscious by the crash. His vitals were fading rapidly, and he needed an immediate dose of adrenaline to be revived but Grant's medikit was nowhere to be found.
To make matters worse, he was soon discovered by a roaming patrol of AAF troopers and was immediately surrounded by the Altians. Unable to retaliate, he disarmed himself and could do little but attempt to resuscitate his patient whilst the troopers held him at gunpoint. Luckily for Grant and Spader, two other survivors of the 21st; an armoured vehicle crewman by the name of Corporal Louis Barklem, and a helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Terry Simpson, would take out his captors and clear the area of threats.
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Barklem: Hey! Shit, what happened? He shot? Grant: I need a needle and adrenaline, get me a medkit, now! He's unconscious.
CPL Barklem manages to save Grant from his captors
»
Grant asked the Corporal if he had a medikit on him. Barklem - having just rescued LT Simpson minutes prior, had fortunately brought along medical supplies from the wreckage of Simpson's gunship. Barklem handed over the medikit and Grant quickly went to work on reviving Spader.
With a shot of adrenaline and morphine, Spader regained his consciousness and could even stand up again (albeit slowly). Now that the duo were ready to fight, they decided to join Barklem and Simpson to hopefully link up with the other survivors at the Emergency Rendezvous Point (ERV) north of their current position.
Encountering and fighting past a few more AAF patrols along the way, the ragtag fireteam finally reach the ERV to meet remnants of LZ Mustang led by Third Lieutenant Jeremy Collins, the sole surviving officer of Mustang's troops. They had set up a fortified position at the old surf club, as well as an improvised casualty collection point for the wounded.
However, upon their arrival at the ERV, a recon unit by the callsign of Pariah under the command of Sergeant John Sturrock requested immediate reinforcements from the ERV. 3LT Collins denied his request as the ERV was too understrength and needed all the available manpower they could get their hands on. SGT Sturrock angrily warned Collins that if their position (overlooking the MSR) was overrun then the ERV itself would also fall.
CPL Barklem volunteered to help Sturrock, and Grant decided to tag along with him. They quickly made their way towards Sturrock's position and arrived just in time to assist in their defence. After a short but nonetheless fierce firefight, Sturrock's position was secured with their help. However, Grant's fireteam was needed back at the ERV as it was now under heavy attack by more AAF reinforcements. They rushed back to the ERV and joined the other defenders at the frontline. Following yet another desperate battle, the survivors miraculously managed to hold their position - if only for the time being.
Hours later, the sun was beginning to rise, and the survivors braced themselves for the next phase of the "operation". As it turned out, LZ Blazer's forces had mostly arrived intact and were already preparing to lay siege upon Chalkeia. Mustang's survivors needed to regroup with the main force if they were to stand any hope of capturing the city. However, they had to do so before more AAF reinforcements would cut them off, and so the survivors decided to push north through the ruins of Aktinarki.
Crossing the no man's land between the ERV and LZ Blazer's improvised command post, Grant and the others eventually regrouped with Blazer's troops and could now properly lay siege to the city. During the latter stages of the battle, Grant and the 21st succeeded in occupying the city but were nearly overrun when AAF tanks and other armoured vehicles break through the defensive line north of Chalkeia. Fortunately, they were saved in the nick of time by friendly air support. With mere moments to spare, the gunships annihilated the incoming armour and turned what could have been a major disaster into a victory.
Post-Steel Pegasus[]
Despite almost being overrun, Grant and the rest of the 21st BCT managed to make it through the gauntlet alive. Operation Steel Pegasus was a complete success and Chalkeia would decisively fall under NATO control. Later that night, their victory would be followed with the swift capture of Pyrgos after other NATO forces advanced into and seized the capital; all made possible thanks to the 21st's efforts.
Grant must be rescued alongside Simpson in the same playthrough of LZ Nowhere. The achievement will be unlocked once Barklem rescues both of them successfully (their optional objectives have to be marked as complete).
Trivia[]
As with Terry Simpson, Grant presumably survives the events of Steel Pegasus. However, unlike other main characters in the 21st BCT, Grant's fate is not mentioned in the epilogue regardless of his survival in LZ Nowhere, though he will be counted towards the casualty toll should he be killed in action.
It is possible to rescue Grant first rather than Simpson. Doing so will trigger unique dialogue if Grant is brought to Simpson's crash site, whereby the medic will back up Barklem's assessment that his (Simpson) co-pilot was deceased.
