User talk:Luke Danger/sandbox/M35 Mako

The M35 Mako infantry fighting vehicle was designed for the Systems Alliance's frigates. It is designed to fulfill the role of rapid deployment that its predecessor, the M29 Grizzly, fell short of accomplishing. Though the interior is cramped, an M35 is small enough to be carried in the cargo bay and easily deployed on virtually any world.

Specifications
With its turreted 155mm mass accelerator cannon and coaxial-mounted machine gun, the Mako can provide a fireteam with weapon support as well as mobility. Since Alliance marines may be required to fight on any world in a variety of planetary environments, the Mako is environmentally sealed and powered by a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.

The vehicle's armor is tough enough to withstand high drops, extreme heat and cold and rough terrain. The Mako's suspension and propulsion system allow the vehicle to adapt to various terrain, as well as enabling the vehicle to change direction quickly via independently reversible wheels (similar to a tank).

For deployment on low-gravity planetoids, it is equipped with micro-thrusters and a small element zero core, which can be used to increase mass and provide greater traction. While not large enough to nullify the vehicle's mass, the core can reduce it enough to be safely air-dropped (a maneuver normally requiring a minimum of 100m of open terrain). This allows frigates to deploy their shore parties while limiting the ship's exposure to defensive anti-aircraft artillery. When used in conjunction with thrusters, it also allows the Mako to extricate itself from difficult terrain.

The Mako's hull is covered with laser detection arrays, which forewarn the crew of enemy laser-guided ordnance. Ground-penetrating radar allows detection of anti-vehicle mines and other subsurface anomalies. These will be brought to the attention of the crew by the vehicle's micro-frame computer system.

Several combat support vehicles using the Mako's basic chassis are manufactured for Alliance surface garrisons. These include a recon drone controller, a mobile air defense platform, and the M38 military ambulance nicknamed "Moby" because it is painted white during peacekeeping operations. Shipboard Marines exclusively use the tactically flexible and heavily armed base model.

Mass Effect
The SSV Normandy carries a Mako, which is used as a land vehicle. Commander Shepard uses the vehicle countless times in the mission to stop Saren Arterius.

Notably, Shepard's squad uses the Mako on Ilos to travel through the Conduit. The Mako was teleported instantaneously to the Citadel, where it smashes over two geth troopers before finally coming to rest on its side. It is overturned and severely damaged in the landing, so Shepard's squad is forced to abandon it and fight on foot.

Mass Effect: Paragon Lost
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In 2185, Delta Squad make use of a Mako borrowed from Messner to reach a lost Prothean ruin on Fehl Prime. Although civilian owned, this Mako was armed and considered combat ready, though was not used in combat. Delta Squad later takes it back to the colony when the Collectors launch their attack on the colony. However, once they infiltrate the occupied colony the Mako is left abandoned.

Mass Effect 2
Sometime after the battle, the Mako was repaired or replaced.

When a Collector Cruiser destroys the SSV Normandy in a surprise attack, the wreckage crashes on the surface of Alchera. The Mako can be found largely intact resting on a rock at the crash site, demonstrating the vehicle's resilience and prompting Shepard to have a flashback of the vehicle parked inside the Normandy's cargo bay.

Following the construction of the SSV Normandy's successor, the Normandy SR-2, the UT-47 Kodiak Drop Shuttle supplants the Mako as Shepard's primary transport to and from combat missions.

Mass Effect 3
Numerous Makos are deployed groundside during the final battle for Earth, where they form the bulk of the Alliance mobile armor under Hammer Team. At the push toward the London Conduit, several vehicles try to outrun Harbinger's attacks, only to fail utterly. One Mako directly sidelines Shepard's squadmates after tumbling on their path, forcing Shepard to proceed alone.

Trivia

 * The larger vehicles, which are similar to the Mako, seen on several mission planets and uncharted worlds, are actually old M29 Grizzly units.
 * Given its predecessor was nicknamed "Grizzly", the Mako is likely named after the mako shark.
 * The Mako seems to draw design cues from multiple real-world sources.
 * One may be the 20th century Russian BTR-series of APCs, especially in the turret, body shape and side entry door areas (even though they aren't used in the game, they are visible.)
 * Another might be the 6x6 variants of the MOWAG Piranha.
 * As a nod to the sometimes outrageous ability of the Mako to climb cliffs, there is a 'Mako Mountain Climbing Team' t-shirt in BioWare's official store.
 * The Mako can carry at least 4 people, as demonstrated during the Feros mission it is occupied by your squad and Lizbeth Baynham (who can be seen exiting the Mako when it is close to the ExoGeni hideout).
 * The Mako also appears in the animated film Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, where, for the first time, the interior is depicted. As seen in the animation, at least 8 people can ride the Mako (with quite a lot of free space left).
 * You can purchase an RC Mako Avatar prop on Xbox Live for US $2.99.
 * If the player dies whilst in the Mako, when the "Mission Failed" screen appears and the camera circles the player's body, the Mako's turret will rotate to follow the camera. This also occurs if the Mako is destroyed and the player attempts to reenter it. If the Mako is destroyed but you are not in it, try returning to the Normandy or use PC Cheats to spawn a new one.
 * As a nod to the Mako's unpopularity among fans, during the vehicle chase in Mass Effect 2's Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC, Liara will remark that the aircar the player is driving is still "better than the Mako".
 * A version of the Mako can be seen in the comic Mass Effect: Evolution, suggesting that it has been used by the Systems Alliance Navy since at least the First Contact War. Former BioWare writer Chris L'Etoile noted this as a continuity error.
 * During the events of Citadel Archives: Escape, one of Shepard's teams dubs themselves "Team Mako", likely in honor of said vehicle. James Vega, an avowed fan of the vehicle, is always part of Team Mako if he isn't picked as a squadmate.
 * Artwork has been seen for the Mako in the next Mass Effect game. As of July 2014, the vehicle was turretless, but able to be customized.