Grasshopper might not be the best name to use as there's a 'Mech with that name. Unless you specifically want to cause confusion of course.
Dropship wise, the sort of force you seem to have in mind would probably be in a Union, which carries 12 'Mechs and 2 aerospace fighters and is one of the most common dropships around.
Force distribution wise, typically at least 70% of a 'Mech force will be made up of light and medium designs. The classic lights are the Wasp, Stinger and Locust (all in at 20 tons). The Draconis Combine makes extensive use of the Panther and Jenner (both 35 tons). The Lyran Commonwealth practically invented the light 'Mech (shocking I know) with the Commando and also build the Firestarter, the archetypal anti-infantry 'Mech.
The archetypal medium 'Mech is the Phoenix Hawk (not the LAM version), although the only source of Phoenix Hawk LAMs by the 31st century is a factory in the Draconis Combine so having a damaged one in a pirate force near them isn't too implausible. The Combine don't favour medium 'Mechs much, but the Lyran Commonwealth builds the Vulcan (another anti-infantry design) and the Griffin, which is almost as common as the Phoenix Hawk. Other very common mediums are the Dervish, Shadow Hawk and Wolverine. The Griffin and the last three are at the top of the medium weight bracket and usually carry the weight of the fighting unless heavy and/or assault 'Mechs are around.
As an aside, the Lyrans build a very wide array of aerospace fighters and the Combine build some excellent ones so you're spoiled for choice in the aerospace choice. I'd recommend something generic like a Hellcat or Eagle, but a Shilone, Sholagar, Seydlitz or Lucifer would be perfectly plausible.
If you go into the heavy category, the Archer is probably the most common and built by both Lyrans and Draconians. The Combine also build the Quickdraw and Dragon, while the Lyrans also build the Warhammer, Thunderbolt and Rifleman. For assaults - very unusual for pirates - the Atlas, Banshee, Battlemaster, Stalker and Zeus are all built by the Lyrans and the Draconians build the Atlas and the Charger.
Dropship wise, the sort of force you seem to have in mind would probably be in a Union, which carries 12 'Mechs and 2 aerospace fighters and is one of the most common dropships around.
Force distribution wise, typically at least 70% of a 'Mech force will be made up of light and medium designs. The classic lights are the Wasp, Stinger and Locust (all in at 20 tons). The Draconis Combine makes extensive use of the Panther and Jenner (both 35 tons). The Lyran Commonwealth practically invented the light 'Mech (shocking I know) with the Commando and also build the Firestarter, the archetypal anti-infantry 'Mech.
The archetypal medium 'Mech is the Phoenix Hawk (not the LAM version), although the only source of Phoenix Hawk LAMs by the 31st century is a factory in the Draconis Combine so having a damaged one in a pirate force near them isn't too implausible. The Combine don't favour medium 'Mechs much, but the Lyran Commonwealth builds the Vulcan (another anti-infantry design) and the Griffin, which is almost as common as the Phoenix Hawk. Other very common mediums are the Dervish, Shadow Hawk and Wolverine. The Griffin and the last three are at the top of the medium weight bracket and usually carry the weight of the fighting unless heavy and/or assault 'Mechs are around.
As an aside, the Lyrans build a very wide array of aerospace fighters and the Combine build some excellent ones so you're spoiled for choice in the aerospace choice. I'd recommend something generic like a Hellcat or Eagle, but a Shilone, Sholagar, Seydlitz or Lucifer would be perfectly plausible.
If you go into the heavy category, the Archer is probably the most common and built by both Lyrans and Draconians. The Combine also build the Quickdraw and Dragon, while the Lyrans also build the Warhammer, Thunderbolt and Rifleman. For assaults - very unusual for pirates - the Atlas, Banshee, Battlemaster, Stalker and Zeus are all built by the Lyrans and the Draconians build the Atlas and the Charger.