Grunt

**Grunt** is a genetically engineered krogan super soldier. Bred and educated in a tank, he was intended to exemplify the best traits of the krogan, and help reinvigorate his species. In the meantime, he initially fought alongside Commander John Shepard to satisfy his natural desire for violence during the Collector crisis in 2185 CE.

## **Biography**

### **Early life**

Grunt was created on Korlus by the krogan warlord Okeer, who was originally investigating the genophage virus. However, Okeer gradually became obsessed with his work and realized that surviving the genophage had become the only benchmark for a good krogan, which was weakening the species as a whole. He decided to produce a genetically pure, superior krogan—a super soldier—and poured all his efforts into his experiments, even seeking help from the Collectors.

### A **fateful encounter**

"*Human. Male. Before you die, I need a name."* *"I'm Commander Shepard, and I don't take threats likely. I suggest you relax.*"
―Grunt and John Shepard, moments after being awakened from his tank
After rejecting thousands of specimens as unworthy, Okeer finally produced his perfect prototype before he died from toxins released by Jedore, a Blue Suns mercenary. Commander John Shepard, who had come to Korlus hoping to recruit Okeer, instead, recovered the super soldier's tank and took it aboard the *Normandy* SR-2.

When Shepard released the super soldier from his tank, the newly awakened krogan pinned Shepard to a wall and declared his intention to kill the Commander, though he desires a name before doing so. He picked "Grunt", one of the last words in Okeer's final message, claiming, "It has no meaning. It'll do". Surprisingly, Shepard managed to convince Grunt to join the mission against the Collectors as it will be a good fight for Grunt, who upon accepting Shepard's offer, realized that Shepard was also pointing a gun at him all along, to which Grunt approves.

### **Rite of Passage**

"*You have passed the Rite of Passage, earning the honor of clan and name. Many survive, but it has been years since a thresher maw fell! Your names shall live in glory. Grunt, you are now Urdnot. You may now own property, join the army, and apply to serve under a battlemaster."* *"Shepard is my battlemaster. He has no match.*"
―Clan Urdnot's Shaman and Grunt
After Grunt has been freed from his tank for some time, EDI and Yeoman Kelly Chambers alert Shepard that Grunt has become anxious and is behaving irrationally. Upon talking to him, Grunt reveals his emotions are in turmoil, describing it as similar to krogan blood frenzy and feeling confused about how to handle it. EDI suggests visiting Tuchanka to consult a krogan clan leader. The clan leader, Urdnot Wrex, explains that Grunt is undergoing the krogan equivalent of puberty and must take part in a rite of passage with Shepard at his side to prove himself a worthy krogan and join a clan, or die in the attempt.

### **War against the Reapers**

Grunt returns in 2186 to fight the Reapers, and has since earned the command of Aralakh Company. Urdnot Wrex notes that as a result, that because Aralakh Company is his best unit, he placed Grunt in charge because he exemplifies the bright future of the krogan, something Wrex hopes for his people; Grunt, as such, is optimistic, and cares about his company more.

To a lesser extent, he still experiences the stigma of being tank-born, rather than earning strength in the way other krogan feel is true. Nonetheless, his undeniable prowess in battle has earned him his place in the company.

He aids Shepard investigate the disappearance of other squads in the tunnels of Utukku, where they discover a new brood of rachni who have been twisted by Reaper technology. Because of Shepard's decision to spare the Rachni Queen, Aralakh Company is left behind to cover her escape, much to Grunt's disgust; they are slaughtered holding off wave after wave of rachni but the queen survives, providing rachni support. Grunt breaks through a wall in the cavern to reach Shepard's squad, then runs with them back to the waiting shuttle. Realizing the Reaper modified-rachni are closing in on them, Grunt personally holds several Ravagers and Swarmers off to cover Shepard and his team's escape. Grunt survived the battle, limping out of the rachni nest all bloody and asking for something to eat.

Grunt soon contributes to the war effort after recuperating from his "scratches".

After retaking the *Normandy* from an imposter, after Shepard has been in and out of the apartment a few times, an e-mail from C-Sec appears asking for his presence in regards to a troublemaking krogan. Shepard meets with C-Sec at a noodle stand, where Grunt has been detained. Once Shepard politely muscles in to take the heat off Grunt's back, Grunt tells Shepard what happened: After the battle on Utukku, Grunt had been recovering in Huerta Memorial Hospital until he got bored, so his men broke him out of the hospital by lowering him down on a rope. It didn't quite work, as Grunt ended up falling down a few stories. Later, he and his men got rowdy on the Presidium's Krogan Memorial statue. When C-Sec arrived, Grunt threw a bottle of Ryncol at a C-Sec shuttle and set it on fire. As its pilot jumped out, Grunt jumped into the shuttle for a short joyride until he crashed it into the noodle stand. C-Sec then caught up and arrested him while he was buying noodles (because he was hungry), and Grunt dropped Shepard's name as his way of trying not to get sent to the brig.

Grunt was soon be invited to Shepard's big party. At the party's first phase, he's by the fireplace with James, Cortez, and Wrex, informing the guests about the circumstances of his creation. He and Wrex both hang out at the balcony overlooking the ground floor interacting with each other krogan-style: Grunt labeling Wrex a fossil and belittling his abilities due to his age. The two headbutt each other in an attempt to show the other up, prompting Shepard to tell them to knock it off since there's no time for shopping for replacements if anything gets broken.

At the second phase of the party, Grunt lounges around the living room fireplace with Wrex and dares the old krogan to a drinking contest, having none of Wrex's excuses for declining. He successfully goads Wrex into the game after taunting that "logic is for salarians" and that the "great Urdnot Wrex has backed down from [the] challenge." Conversing with Wrex, Grunt informs him that two of Aralakh Company's recruits were opposed to his appointment, but only one of them had to deal with it after the other was killed in a fight. Shepard can sit down with the krogan, prompting the trio to engage in a very casual conversation.

Grunt then serves as the party's bouncer by standing in front of the vid-phone by the apartment's door and keeping uninvited guests out of the party. Aside from cunningly discerning fake lip-hair from salarians and recognizing that Shepard doesn't have a half-brother named "Sheppy the Volus", Grunt momentarily gets tempted with a free copy of Galaxy of Fantasy but gets over it and keeps on rejecting party crashers. When Shepard checks in, Grunt mentions his enjoyment of the job, warning the Commander about the quality of gate crashers.

At the third phase, Grunt is hanging out by the kitchen. He mentions being pleased at seeing the old gang again, even commenting on how good Liara looks. Grunt persistently makes his hunger known if he's hanging out by the kitchen, and when EDI likens preparing food to the suicide mission, Grunt mentions "holding the line" at the snack table.

At the end of the party, he appears with the rest of the guests to pose for the group photograph. In the morning, he's at the kitchen anticipating Vega's egg cooking, mentioning he cleaned up the bathroom but doesn't remember much after he ate a lamp.

Prior to the final push at the final battle on Earth, Grunt contacts Shepard via holo and thanks him for getting him out of the tank in the first place.

### **After the war**

Grunt and Urdnot Wrex are both given a hero's welcome at Tuchanka, heroes among a horde of cheering krogan. Grunt became a Battle Chief in the Krogan Army, 2nd Brigade ,First Division.

## Summary of service

### Assignments

* 2187: Leader, 2nd Brigade, First Division, Tuchanka