MARCS-Class Ship

MARCS-class ships are the largest vehicles, and most powerful conventional weapons in the 8th Age. The designation MARCS comes from the Agathonian military acronym “Mobile Air - Regional Command Ship.” In Com-A the ships are called “Avi-Linimus Ossra Strani” or “Ultra-Large Air Ships.”

Before the Long War the only MARCS-class ships in existence were the four Sovereignty model ships of the United Security Command. Each ship was designated as the mobile capital of one of the USC's military districts:

• Benevolence - Northern Military District
• Gelaunth - Eastern Military District
• Kaumut - Southern Military District
• Salvation - Western Military District

During the early years of the war the USC maintained its monopoly in MARCS-class vessels. It used this to great advantage, able to maintain a steady command and supply chain behind its rapid advance. With the introduction of Chaos Energy devices (specifically the Chaos Bomb) it was almost assumed the USC's technological strength would bring a quick victory.

It would be a surprise, then, when the USC lost the Benevolence in its first assault on Agalos City with no clear cause.