File: The Mara Shun

501st SPC Acapelican1

Eventmaster
May 27, 2021
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[CREDENTIALS RECOGNIZED: FILE ACCESS GRANTED]

[ACCESSING FILE...]

[ACCESSING FILE..]
 
[FILE ACCESSED: THE MARA SHUN CIVILIZATION]
 

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Image of a Mara Shun fighting machine uncovered at a dig site on Orson-A.
Rediscovery: 

The Mara Shun were rediscovered on a Republic excavation site on a previously unnamed desert planet in the Orson system. Based on intel found from various consoles in ruins dating back to the High Republic era, the planet was not always an arid wasteland. It is suspected that the arrival of the Mara Shun somehow influenced the environment on the world now known as Orson-A. 

Rumors of the technology found on Orson-A would be first located during Operation: Eviction Notice (more information can be read here), an attack on a Separatist experimental weapons facility. Information would be uncovered under a project known as the Holepuncher Bomb. Republic High Command took interest in Orson-A after captured information from the Separatists linked the world to the Second Sector King's Reaper Droid technology. Upon arrival, archaeologist teams promptly setup mining operations on the world. However, this increase in Republic activity would become noticed by pirates and prospectors, who began to comb the surface for their own profit. 

Still, dig sites would continue operations relatively unhindered. Strange pieces of armor, powerful but damaged weaponry, and parts of large machines would be located under the planets surface. Terminals and information would fail to be uncovered in tact, leaving many Republic academics to speculate what they were digging up.  

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On 3/26/222, an incident would occur in which a large pirate collective operating near Dig Site Omega would begin a large raid on the facility. The Burst Link Venator would be sent to deal with the hostile presence and secure the area for the night. After a quick skirmish, the Burst Link forced all pirate presence to leave the area, rescuing a few hostages on the way. They would experience relative peace for around 20 minutes. 

Tremors would be experienced not shortly after the removal of the pirates. A sinkhole would form in one of the quarries, trapping various workers and prompting an investigation team of site personnel. Shortly after, a large, Mara Shun fighting machine would exit from the ground, laying waste to the surroundings, firing a powerful laser that cut a nearby Acclamator in half. Mara Shun soldiers would also rise from the ground, attacking troopers and dig site personnel alike. For unknown reasons (though some speculate due to some form of biological communication), other excavation areas across the planet would face similar Mara Shun activity. 

The Burst Link would escape with some dig site personnel through a series of tunnels uncovered by the Republic Commandos on the site. They would enter an old subway station that lead directly to the local pirate hideout, and clear it out, before calling evac and narrowly escaping trailing Mara Shun forces.

Helmet Cam footage from 501st Dakka can be seen here: 




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Species and Civilization Overview:

The Mara Shun species is believed to be rather recent, only evolving in the past 500 years or so. However, it is suspected that by some luck of the draw, their home world, "Mara Shun", was filled with abundant valuable resources for the creation of new technology. While today their technology is decently ancient, during the age of the High Republic, they were rather up to standard. Additionally, their weaponry and other armament remains rather powerful. 

It is believed their home world of Mara Shun lies somewhere in the Orson System, however, due to the fact many of the planets are barren and look identical (suspected due to Mara Shun activity), we are unsure which. Therefore, our knowledge on their customs, culture, and other societal features are very limited. We do believe that this is not the Mara Shun's first encounter with the Republic, though information on them has proved exceedingly difficult to find in our archives. 

On various operations, Republic forces have observed civilians drained of their blood, with numerous locations covered in a strange red flora. Jedi have reported a weakened connection to the force when in proximity with the plant life. 

The unarmored Mara Shun is a frail looking creature, their gray skin covered in a strange biomatter. Their legs are spindly, ending in clawed feet. Their arms end in hands with six, very flexible, clawed digits. Under the helmet, their face is rather flat, sporting 2 sets of small, beady eyes and four mandibles on the edges of their mouths. Without armor, they are rather weak. It is suspected the biomatter they are coated with is not naturally produced by their bodies in the quantity they are found in. When armored, the Mara Shun are rather durable. Though they do not have much muscularity, their suits do protect them from both physical impact and blaster shots.

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Technology and Tactics: 

Mara Shun vehicles are built with a durable material of unknown origin, and equipped with powerful ray shields. They also tend to have some form of force resistance, which makes it much more difficult for them to be manipulated. 

What we've dubbed as the "Mara Shun Fighting Machine", or "Tripod" by some of our ground forces, has a characteristic large laser mounted on top of a towering three legged chassis. This laser is capable of cutting through capital ship armor and turning people to ash. They come in a wide range of sizes, most observed to be 75 feet when at full height. A powerful shield generator is believed to be housed somewhere inside the machine, though our armament has proved unable to pierce the main body of the fighting machines in order to damage it. The usage of trees, rocks, and other large, physical matter against the fighting machines by the Jedi has proved decently efficient in hindering their movements. Additionally, torpedoes and LAAT missiles, while only pestering the hulking machines, can also be of some use. 

"Mara Shun Flying Machines" have similar characteristics, but feature four "wings" and no legs. It also lacks the power of the beam cannon it's ground counterpart has, featuring a similar eye-like weapon that shoots more standard turbolaser shots. They are observed to transport Mara Shun soldiers and smaller spacecraft. Additionally, they are capable of carrying Fighting Machines through space, utilizing the tripod's cannon to add to their firepower. 

Mara Shun space technology seems to have lagged behind the rest of the galaxy in hyperspace capability. Their jumps are incredibly short and fuel inefficient, indicated to us by their infrequent usage. For this reason, they have never needed in high quantities of coaxium or other fuels. More often than not, they use hyper fuels to power real space travel at remarkable speeds.  They rove from planet to planet in large swarms that are difficult to stop. With the added firepower of Fighting Machine lasers, capital ships have failed to properly engage with these masses for more than a few seconds before complete annihilation. 

The Mara Shun have rather effective drilling technology as well, capable of burrowing through some of the sturdiest materials without dulling. Their ambush tactics often involve ground laid sensors that signal drills filled with soldiers to emerge from the ground. The individual soldier is also rather adept at digging, though not to the same caliber as the machines. 

Despite their inability to hyperspace, Mara Shun assaults are rather difficult to track. They usually incorporate the element of surprise, jamming communications and isolating groups, while taking advantage of the panic that ensues. The interference caused is usually rather strong but can be beat with some time. 

[MISSION STATEMENT]
[OUTDATED] As of now, the Republic has focused on evacuating civilization populations away from this looming threat, and no real ways of combatting their advances have been discovered, though strategies are being developed. [OUTDATED]

As of 7/2/2022, the Republic has redirected it's focus to directly combatting the Mara Shun threat, developing tactics to combat their war machines, and working to discern their motives more clearly.

 
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501st SPC Acapelican1

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May 27, 2021
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Mission/Incident Log:

The following is a record of various notable encounters the GAR, and particularly the Burst Link Venator, has had with Mara Shun forces. 

Incident on 3/26/2022:

First recent encounter with the Mara Shun. Republic archaeologists and dig site personnel were instructed to begin operations under the H.G. (Hidden Gem) Project on the planet Orson-A due to alleged ties to the Second Sector King's Reaper droids. Following a raid by local pirates at one of the digsites, the Burst Link Venator was dispatched to rescue workers on the site. After expelling the pirates from the area and a brief moment of reprieve, the Mara Shun on site, believed to be awoken by the chaos, rose from the ground and attacked. The Burst Link would evacuate on site staff through abandoned subways, coincidentally finding and escaping through the pirate's local hideout, narrowly escaping the Mara Shun pursuers. Almost immediately after this incident, numerous similar occurrences would happen across the planet until Republic operations were halted on the world. 

Incident 3/27/2022:

The Republic would quickly attempt to deploy a containment fleet around Orson-A following the Mara Shun's reawakening. However, their first space conflict with the Mara Shun would not go as desired. Severely underestimating the power of the escaping Mara Shun and their weaponry, the defense fleet would succumb to the combined powers of Mara Shun heat rays and immense numbers. They would bare witness to the swarm style tactics of the Mara Shun and be caught off guard due to their powerful jamming technology. Numerous Mara Shun craft would escape the world and begin their sublight march towards neighboring systems.

Mission 3/29/2022:

The first Mara Shun attack would be on the neighboring developing world of Orson-C. While mostly covered in coniferous forests and wilderness, growing Republic towns and colonies were sprouting up on the planet. Due to the unexpected nature of the attack, and the perceived lack of value of the world, the Mara Shun would manage to destroy a small defense fleet and begin terrorizing the surface. The Burst Link Venator would be assigned to rescue an Arquintens that was shot down while trying to evacuate civilians. At the site of the crash, the Burst Link would enter a skirmish with two Mara Shun flying machines and a large number of ground forces. While unable to save much of the clone forces and local populace, the Burst Link would utilize the downed Arquintens' guns to fend off the flying machines and fend off the Mara Shun attack long enough for evac to arrive. Oddly, they would find little to no bodies aside from scattered, charred corpses in the area.

Mission 4/17/2022:

The Mara Shun's advances on nearby Republic worlds proved exceedingly difficult to track due to their heavy usage of jamming, completely foreign language, and scrambling technology. On 4/17/2022, the Burst Link would be sent to a farming world known as Vaneir to and commence in a large scale evacuation effort moments before Mara Shun arrival. Though the Burst Link were able to evacuate many civilians, Jedi Knight Forem would be crushed by a Mara Shun Fighting Machine. Additionally, Alpha ARC Bubbs would lose his right arm in an encounter with the Mara Shun heat ray.

Encounter 5/02/2022:

Previously, suspicions had arose that the quality of Mara Shun hyperdrives and technology were incredibly underdeveloped, even for their time. The vast spans of time between their attacks indicated to us that their ability to move across space was limited to short jumps and sublight travel. This theory was confirmed by a chance encounter with a Republic shipping operation under the command of Captain Faragin. After exiting hyperspace for a series of maintenance checks, the ships would be suddenly attacked by a Mara Shun swarm, millions of miles away from any nearby planets in the middle of the abyss of space. Only 2 Pelta Frigates out of Faragin's 8 vessel fleet would escape, relaying this valuable information to the Republic. 

Mission 5/28/2022:

The movement of these Mara Shun would be tracked weeks later on the planet known as Kifra Tora, where the Burst Link Venator would be assigned to attack a Mara Shun outpost suspected to be holding civilians. The position had been monitored extensively to discover scheduled patrols and movements of the Mara Shun, leaving the Burst Link with a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the castle. Approaching from a nearby coastal town, the Burst Link would find the bodies of numerous civilians in a nearby mineshaft, drained of their blood. Pressing further, the Burst Link would approach a castle overgrown with strange red weeds. This oddly colored flora was reported to weaken the Jedi's connection to the force as they neared it. After entering the castle, the Burst Link would succeed in freeing some captured civilians, but not undetected. A returning Tripod would halt the Burst Link's escape until the surprise arrival of "The Thunderchild", a modified Hammerhead cruiser catered toward evacuations from Mara Shun infested areas. 

Mission 7/02/2022:

On 7/02/2022, the GAR launched a large evacuation effort on the planet of Harroa, following the sudden arrival of Mara Shun swarms in nearby space. As the most developed of Mara Shun targets, the Republic spared no expense on getting civilians off world. Clones would be sent to guide clones to major evacuation points on the coast line. The Burst Link Venator would be sent to a destroyed city in hopes of rescuing any survivors following a Mara Shun attack that prevented evacuation. After recovering a few civilians, the Burst Link would guide them to a coastal city where they would once again be delayed due to Mara Shun jamming. In this span of time, the Mara Shun would assault the city while clones attempted to re-establish communication for extraction. As Mara Shun craft of massive proportions surrounded the position, the Thunder Child would arrive to make a last ditch attempt to distract them. The clones and civilians would escape as the vessel was shot down.

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Mission 7/25/2022:

Following the successful evacuation on Harroa, the GAR shifted their attentions to directly combatting the Mara Shun. In hopes of creating a weapon powerful enough to pierce the Mara Shun's technology, Republic research teams set to work on creating their own heat ray. On the planet of Dajiri, a squadron of LAATs reported locating an isolated tripod during an intense storm near a secluded coastal town. While originally arriving to provide evac, the small team of pilots succeeded in impaling the machine on jagged rocks utilizing their torpedoes. The Burst Link Venator would be sent to secure the area for a research team to begin studying the device. Upon arrival, the aftermath of the intense skirmish was apparent. The large Mara Shun fighting machine could be observed stuck and seemingly disabled on a stone spire. Evacuating civilians, finding clone survivors, and fending off local wildlife, the Burst Link would deem the site safe for the arrival of researchers. However, the Mara Shun fighting machine would suddenly emit a distress call, revealing it was not totally disabled. In moments, Mara Shun flying machines would arrive to attack the clones, trapping the researchers on the ground. With communications jammed by the Mara Shun craft, the Burst Link would be forced to abandon the trapped fighting machine and call for evac. Once in contact with Marshall Commander Chorus, the Burst Link would be forced to make a difficult decision; Attempt to evacuate by LAAT and rely on the skill of their pilots, or attempt to survive heavy bombardment from Republic Venators. They chose the latter, hunkering down in a cave. Numerous men would experience heavy injuries, including RSB Agent Ivan varros, and Alpha ARC Riff. Following the window created by the intense bombing, the Burst Link would escape. 

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Mission 8/08/2022: 

On 8/08/2022, a number of extensively detailed files on combatting the Mara Shun was sent to Republic Intelligence by the Jedi Order. These files, allegedly "lost in the archives", reveal the Jedi, backed by the Republic, had numerous engagements with the Mara Shun during the High Republic era. It was revealed to us through these files that Mara Shun weaponry were powered by Kyber Crystals, which we presume occurred naturally on their home world by some galactic lottery. Interestingly however, these creatures seem to have no affinity towards the force. The full file can be read here.

We have suspicions that the Jedi knowingly withheld these files from us, however, we are not in a position where we can complain. 

Incident 8/13/2022:

The Mara Shun swarm arrived on the Republic planet of Sirgo in vast numbers. Very quickly, they would overrun many of the main operation sites, forcing Republic forces to evacuate or take refuge in the vast tundra in small outposts. Among the assaulting craft, it was observed that three large, octahedron shaped machines, dubbed "Harvesters", arrived on the world. Numerous Mara Shun machines would latch into the ground with drills to collect resources. Sirgo was the home of a massive coaxium mining operation to gather fuel for Republic hyperspace technology, leading us to suspect the Mara Shun were attempting to improve their own hyperdrives.

Mission 8/14/2022:

With concerns that the Mara Shun would utilize the coaxium in tandem with newly developed hyperdrives to spread throughout the galaxy, a defense team was quickly dispatched to deal with their invasion. Three groups would be dispatched to deal with the Harvesters, with the only successful team being the Burst Link. These teams would be accompanied by Venator-Class Cruisers with experimental cannons mounted to their hull. These prototypes were actually rather old, being only slight improvements over the model used to destroy the rebuilt Malevolence in an operation led by Admiral Keen. After firing, the Venator would enter a state of low power, and would be unable to fire another short nor move. 

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The Burst Link would be instructed to evacuate Republic personnel trapped in a large coaxium mining facility. After evacuating the personnel, the experimental cruiser would fire at the Harvester, immobilized while siphoning resources in the ground. Before deployment, the Burst Link would be instructed to be careful with their explosives, as the Coaxium deposits in the ground beneath them would cause mass devastation should they be agitated.

Following a difficult advance out of their LZ through a canyon, the Burst Link's operation would face initial failure. In an attempt to disrupt a Mara Shun fighting machine's harvesting, Jedi Padawan Drator Drew would cut a fuel pipe coursing with the volatile substance. A massive explosion would rock the area, burning many of the clones, notably sending Sergeant Major Larry to a medical station. Drator Drew would die in the blast. Continuing onward with their wounded men, a team of Burst Link clones would breach into the mining complex, discovering the building to be filled with Red Weed and Mara Shun drills for breaching. On the surface, a larger force would fend off any Mara Shun counter attack and secure the surface for any surviving Republic workers. 

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Pockets of survivors were successfully located hiding from the Mara Shun. Despite numerous counter attacks, a window would present itself for civilians to evacuate onto the Venator. With the troopers off the ground, the Venator accompanying them would attempt to fire at the Mara Shun Harvester. However, the powerful cannon would be absorbed by a massive shield the Harvester would erect to protect itself. 




With the Venator unable to move or fire the cannon once more, the Harvester would continue to siphon fuel as Mara Shun Fighting Machine's would halt their resource gathering in order to defend the behemoth. In the chaos, evacuating LAATs would be shot down. RC Carter would recognize an opportunity to take down to the Mara Shun Harvester by instead detonating explosives on a large coaxium crystal spotted in the mines earlier in the mission. With agreeance from the rest of the men, the Burst Link would return to the ground to rig the crystal, rescuing a previously lost CTG Barnes along the way. Narrowly escaping the Mara Shun and leaving the surface once again, the clones would detonate the crystal, causing a chain reaction that would engulf the entire field, and the Harvester alongside it. 

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