Mako

Mako
Type	Fighter
Role	Economy class fighter
Allegiance	Varied
Loadout	Flare Medium Laser
Cost	Unbuyable
Sell price	Unsellable
Specs
Top speed	550 SLU
Afterburner boost	1,375 SLU
Shields	18,500
Hull	22,000
Weaponenergy	35,000

The Mako is a pilotable ship in Tachyon: The Fringe.

Overview

Background

The Mako is a small economy fighter flown by contract pilots who lack the funds to afford a better ship. While it outperforms modern fighters in a few ratings, it has weak shields and hull, a limited capacity for upgrades, and an average speed. This, in addition to the fact that it is a generation out of date, is why the Mako is looked down on by other pilots, even by those who fly ships as humble as the Dart.

Despite tame conflicts between corporations and the occasional pirate attack, the Sol Region enjoys a certain level of peace. This low-stakes, low-reward environment is what created the demand for a ship like the Mako, and Oberon Incorporated was the first company to own its production contract. Before Oberon got very far in this, however, they abandoned the contract so that they could dedicate resources to producing higher-end ships instead. Seeing the unsatisfied niche for this fighter in the market, Core Mining Industries jumped on the opportunity to purchase the contract and began mass producing Makos. Now that sales have been declining, it is predicted that CMI will cease production of the Mako in 2510.

Makos appear primarily in Sol space. One of the biggest customers of the Mako is Advanced Ganymede Technologies, where the economy-class fighter makes up a sizable portion of their fleet. The low cost of the Mako is convenient and the ship's underwhelming firepower still allows them to handle most conflicts in the region. They are rarely encountered in the Fringe where most fighters outclass them. However, a handful of Mako pilots found a home with the Cinder Mercenaries and made a name for themselves in the Hub. In 2509, Jake Logan had to resort to flying a Mako for contract work in the Hub after he was framed for the Halley Station Massacre, stripped of most of his assets by the United Sol Government, and exiled from Sol.

At the end of the day, a ship is only as good as its pilot, and the Mako says one of two things about whoever is flying it: either they are in a rough financial position or they are exceedingly confident in their combat skills.

Design

The Mako was designed to be inexpensive, so it is no surprise that the Mako is much smaller than normal fighters. Its small size is its best advantage, as landing shots on the Mako even at mid-range can be difficult. The ship is tan with yellow markings that highlight the few flat surfaces of the ship's lumpy body. The thruster cover features hazard bands of yellow and black, similar to the colors on a hornet's abdomen. This is fitting for a ship that boasts a fair top speed of 550 SLU as it can zip around in dogfights and sting if left unchecked.

However, the Mako struggles in demanding combat. With shields and hull comparable to light interceptors like the Pegasus or the Mace, this fighter is easily destroyed by a couple well-placed salvos of heavy weapon fire.

Armaments

The Mako's small loadout capacity makes its low-cost limitations even more apparent. The fighter has just two weapon hardpoints. Both can fit lasers, and only the second hardpoint can accommodate rockets but not guided missiles. The primary mount fires from the cannon under the cockpit, so the shots are centered and precise. The secondary mount fires from the openings on the wings, which are narrowly set. The Mako has a very high energy rating that rivals the Battleaxe. This means the Mako can fire energy-based weapons for much longer than other fighters before exhausting its laser reserves.

The Mako's CPU slot allowance is just as unforgiving: two system card slots, in addition to the two engine upgrades. Pilots must choose the systems that are most vital to their flying style, as the Mako forces them to sacrifice luxury and even staple systems with its restrictive slot allowance.

Notes

• The Mako is awarded after completing the mission Quarantine Compromised. It is then sold automatically after completing either Taking Away Independence or Withdraw from Independence.

Notable appearances

• Makos regularly patrol the space around Europa Starbase, Mira Vista Shipyards, and New Zurich Orbital Station.
• The enemy contestants in the mission Arena Qualifier Round 2 are Makos.

Shipyard description

^{The following text is copied from in-game. Typos and inconsistencies preserved.}

Designed for the pilot on a limited budget, the Mako meets all minimum requirements for space travel. Most serious pilots however will avoid this ship since it is a generation out of date and lacks the capability to house larger ordnance. Originally produced by Oberon Incorporated, the project was abandoned in favor of higher end starships. Core Mining Industries bought up the contract and began mass producing these light fighters. As sales dwindle, it is expected that CMI will stop manufacturing Makos altogether by the end of 2510.

Trivia

• The only hostile Makos in the game appear in the contract Arena Qualifier Round 2.
• The Mako has the fewest weapon and system slots of all pilotable ships in the game.
• It is possible to obtain the Mako using the "ragtag" cheat code. The ship will not appear in the Hangar because the GalSpan and Bora ships will take up all the space, but you can access the Mako by choosing it from the Configure Ship screen and launching the mission from there.
• The Mako is the only pilotable ship in the game that can't be manually purchased or sold. This is still true even when you have other remaining ships in the hangar.
• Mako production is expected to stop in 2510, one year after the events of the game end.

Gallery

Sketch of Mako from credits

Image of Mako from ship recognition chart

Wireframe image of Mako in Shipyard