The ASA Grunion was designed and built by Commander Jocko Sinclair after he convinced the Board of Admirals that development of what he called a Long Range Minutia Surveyor (LRMS) was, "the critical next step in expanding Smallonaut interests, in Beta Zone and beyond." His design called for a complete catalog of the most sophisticated sensory and analytical equipment ever installed in a toy space ship, all aimed at mapping and gathering diverse data from the distant boundaries and deepest recesses of a universe in play.

Sinclair initially quipped that all he would need in the way of a crew was, "a sturdy pilot to operate the Command Pod and a service 'bot to make our lunch." But complications during early test missions and pressure from the Board of Admirals convinced the Commander that the addition of a Technical Sergeant would expand mission windows and provide greater flexibility in the field.

A third crew member where cabin space was already scarce ultimately meant adding a secondary support ship to the team. A compatible Grab-Tech 77A Drone Pod was selected for its record of reliability in deep space and for its notable cargo capacity. Dubbed "Bosley" by the crew, the 77A can also serve as towing vehicle for the sometimes problematic Grunion.