Jack Granger

Actor: Michael Ironside

Name: Jack Granger*Affiliation:* Global Defence Initiative (GDI)*Rank:* Lieutenant General*Role:* Chief of Staff of the GDI*Deputy:* Lieutenant Sandra Telfair*Political rival:* Redmond Boyle*Enemies:* Brotherhood of Nod, Scrin*Experience:* Over 28 years’ service and a veteran of the wars against Nod*Conflict:* Third Tiberian Dawn War*Appearance:* Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Status: Depends on the Commander’s final decision.Jack Granger is the GDI’s highest-ranking military officer during the Third Tiberium War. A career Soldier who has risen through the ranks on the strength of his abilities rather than his political connections, he is an experienced, pragmatic Commander deeply committed to the GDI’s principles. His approach to warfare regularly brings him into conflict with the acting director,Redmond Boyle, who is more concerned with the political and media impact of operations.

A GDI veteran

Granger has over 28 years’ military experience and fought in the Second Tiberian Dawn, amongst other conflicts. Unlike much of the GDI, which believes Nod to be considerably weakened following previous conflicts, he remains convinced that the Brotherhood of Nod poses a threat for as long as Tiberium exists on Earth.

When Nod launched its 2047 offensive and destroyed the GDSS Philadelphia, Granger became the GDI’s chief military officer. He then oversaw the operations of the Commander tasked with driving Kane’s forces out of the Blue Zones.

The destruction of the Philadelphia propels Redmond Boyle to the political leadership of the GDI. Relations between the two men quickly become strained.

Granger prioritises military objectives, the protection of civilians and minimising casualties. Boyle is more interested in spectacular victories capable of reassuring public opinion. Despite disagreeing with several of the Director’s decisions, Granger respects the chain of command and carries out his orders as long as they remain compatible with his military responsibilities.

This rivalry reaches its peak during the Battle of Temple Prime.

Temple Prime

After heavy fighting, the GDI manages to penetrate Nod’s gigantic complex in Sarajevo. Granger then recommends encircling Temple Prime and waiting for Kane to be forced out.

Boyle, on the other hand, demands its immediate destruction using the Ion Cannon.

Granger strongly opposes this. GDI intelligence indicates that Nod is conducting research into liquid Tiberium in the area, and an Orbital Strike could trigger a catastrophic reaction. In particular, he attempts to contact Dr Alphonse Giraud to seek his expertise, unaware that the scientist has been abducted by Nod.

Boyle stands by his order.

Granger’s fears are realised: the strike triggers a massive explosion of liquid Tiberium that devastates much of Eastern Europe, kills millions of people and transforms the region into a Red Zone. The explosion also draws the Scrin to Earth, in accordance with Kane’s plan.

The War Against the Scrin

Following the alien invasion, Granger helps organise the GDI’s counter-offensive.

When the Scrin begin constructing their gigantic Threshold Towers, he realises that these structures are a key element of their strategy. In particular, he orders the Commander to destroy a Tower under construction in Rome before it is activated.

The GDI gradually manages to regain the initiative and eventually discovers that the Scrin forces are controlled by a Control Node located at Ground Zero, in the region where Tiberium first appeared on Earth.

The liquid Tiberium bomb

Unbeknown to Granger, Boyle authorises the development of a liquid Tiberium bomb using technology recovered from Nod.

Boyle intends to use this weapon against the Scrin Control Node at Ground Zero. Granger regards this decision as contrary to everything the GDI stands for: in his view, using Tiberium as a weapon would be tantamount to adopting Nod’s methods.

He therefore contacts the Commander directly and asks him not to use the bomb, even if this makes the battle more difficult.

The final decision rests with the player.

Two possible outcomes

If the Commander refuses to use the bomb, the Scrin Node is destroyed using conventional means and the war is won without resorting to the banned weapon. Granger personally congratulates the Commander and informs him that Boyle must resign to avoid prosecution for war crimes.

If the Commander uses the bomb, the explosion destroys the enemy forces but causes approximately 25 million additional deaths. Granger, appalled by this decision and by the GDI’s changing course, immediately tendered his resignation. He refused to continue serving an organisation prepared to sacrifice its own principles for the sake of a quicker victory.

Personality

Granger is a hardened, pragmatic, stubborn and deeply principled military man. His experience makes him particularly wary of Nod and enables him to anticipate several dangers that political leaders underestimate.

He is not, however, portrayed as insubordinate. Even when he disapproves of certain decisions made by Boyle, he respects the chain of command. His limit is a moral one: Granger believes that the GDI must defeat Nod without becoming like its enemy.

His opposition to the use of Tiberium as a weapon perfectly encapsulates this philosophy. For him,the manner in which the GDI wins the war matters just as much as the victory itself.