SF Mara

FreeSpace 1 Ships Terran ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers Capital ships Installations Misc Ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Vasudan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers Capital ships Misc Ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Shivan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers Capital ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Notable ships of FreeSpace 1

FreeSpace 2 Ships Terran ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers and corvettes Capital ships Installations Misc ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Vasudan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers and corvettes Capital ships Misc ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Shivan ships Fighters Bombers Transports and freighters Cruisers and corvettes Capital ships Misc ships Sentry Guns Cargo Containers Notable ships of FreeSpace 2

File:Mara320x240.jpg
The SF Mara

The extensively used SF Mara was one of the Shivan fighters used during their second invasion. The Mara was fast, maneuverable, tough, and relatively small. The craft also had a superior secondary weapon capability that could even compete with that of a bomber-type. Like all Shivan fighters, the Mara was extremely well-shielded and its armoring was somehow superior to that of a typical Shivan fighter. Although it was still weaker than a Terran fighter's, its heavy shielding and swiftness made the Mara a formidable opponent in a dogfight. However, despite its specifications as a fighter-type, Maras were still impractical against larger vessels, thus they were often tasked with bomber escort.

It is the Mara class that was first designated of all Second Incursion-era Shivan fighters after a group of Mara fighters were detected emerging from the Knossos subspace portal in Gamma Draconis. The fighters, with the help of a Rakshasa-class cruiser, easily took down the patrolling GTVA force.

Some time during the nebula campaign, SOC managed to capture at least one wing of these fighters, and their engineers retrofitted them for Terran use. Later, they were used in another SOC operation that discovered the actual size of the Shivan fleet, as well as a third Knossos device.

Description:

FS2 Demo Tech Room Description

The Mara seems to be a Shivan heavy attack fighter. It is not as maneuverable as other Shivan fighters, but it packs quite a punch, and it is very resistant to our weaponry. Most often they have been used in attacking our supply convoys and transports. Treat the Mara as a Class C threat.

FS2 Tech Room Description

The SF Mara class of Shivan fighters was first encountered by the GTC Vigilant while patrolling the Gamma Draconis jump node in the Capella system. All other information concerning the Mara is classified level Psi.

Developer Notes

None

Name origin

Mara has many meanings and connotations. Most likely, the fighter class is named after the Hindu goddess of death. In Buddhism, Mara is not a goddess but a male demon.

Performance:

Statistics

Type	Space Superiority (?)
Manufacturer	Unknown
Maneuverability	N/A
Max Velocity	70.0 - 78.0 mps
Max Afterburner Velocity	120.0 mps
Armor	N/A
Hitpoints	200
Shields	620
Length	17.8 m

Armaments

• Gun Mounts

FreeSpace 2
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout
1st	2	Shivan Mega Laser
2nd	2	Shivan Heavy Laser

• Missile Banks

FreeSpace 2
Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout
1st	80	Trebuchet
2nd	80	Hornet

Veteran Comments

Please read the Veteran Comments policy before editing this section.

It would be a disservice to the Mara to say it's just a Herc II with the speed and maneuverability of the Perseus. But that's the Mara in a nutshell.

The one disadvantage of the Mara is the fairly large target profile it presents to the enemy, but its combination of maneouverability, firepower and durability easily makes up for this.

The "Terran Mara" you use in Into the Lion's Den is slightly superior to the Shivan version.

The above comment is at best an understatement.

The Mara is a highly-capable craft. It can outmaneuver most heavier GTVA fighters and bombers, has enough speed at its disposal to be competitive, and finally has enough weaponry to be a significant threat. All this, even in the hands of an AI pilot. If the Mara were being piloted by players it would be a terror. And the uprated SF Mara (Terrans) is a truly a nightmare, but fortunately one for the other guy.

Maras are a true nightmare on higher difficulty levels. They always appear in swarms, and instantly start trying to fill your ship with volley after volley of Hornets.

What was said above about outmaneuvering heavier fighters and bombers is only true on higher difficulty levels. Even then, as long as you know how to use a heavy fighter properly, you'll be fine.

The Mara seems to be a successor to the SF Dragon, although the Dragon is superior in every way except hull integrity, yet it acts much more like the old SF Scorpion, carrying out bizarre maneuvers on the higher difficulty levels. Unfortunately, like many new Shivan ships, the Mara is more of a let-down than an improvement. It does have a thin profile, however, and the greatest hull integrity of any Shivan fighter.