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Valencia

Guide Curator at GladiatorBoost

I’m the voice behind the blogs here at GladiatorBoost—diving deep into the gaming world to bring you guides, updates, and stories that actually help (and maybe even entertain a little). Whether it's breaking down the latest boosts or highlighting cool moments in your favorite games, I’m here to make the digital grind a little more fun.

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Unlocking factions in Marathon is an important milestone that opens the door to new contracts, upgrades, and powerful rewards. One of the earliest faction contracts you’ll encounter is the “Introducing: Traxus” Priority Contract, which allows players to gain access to the Traxus faction.

While the objective itself isn’t overly complicated, the challenge comes from the fact that every step must be completed in a single run. If you die before extraction, the contract fails and you must start again from the beginning.

This guide explains how to complete the Introducing: Traxus contract in Marathon, including the best locations, combat tips, and strategies to safely finish the mission.

Activating the “Introducing: Traxus” Contract

Before you can begin the contract, you’ll need to activate it from CyAC, the system that provides Priority Contracts in Marathon.

Once selected, the contract will instruct you to travel to Dire Marsh, where all the objectives take place. Unlike many other contracts, this mission contains three sequential tasks that must be completed during the same deployment.

The three objectives are:

1. Hack a terminal in Dire Marsh

2. Defeat a UESC Commander and collect the Shipping Manifest

3. Scan a specific shipping container nearby

Because failure resets the entire contract, it’s strongly recommended to enter the mission well-prepared with upgraded gear, ammo, and healing supplies.

Some players prefer using Marathon Boosting services to speed up faction unlocks and contract completions, especially when difficult enemies or PvP encounters repeatedly interrupt progress.

Step 1: Hack a Terminal in Dire Marsh

The first objective requires hacking a terminal located in one of three possible points of interest within Dire Marsh.

The contract marker on your HUD will guide you once you’re close, but knowing the exact areas can save valuable time.

Possible Terminal Locations

Intersection

• Located on the second floor of the main blue building

• Usually surrounded by multiple enemy patrols

Complex

• Found on a catwalk on the southeast side of the yellow building

• Elevated position gives enemies strong sightlines

Bio-Research

• Inside the main building on the ground floor

• Often has tight interior combat spaces

When you reach the correct building, simply interact with the terminal to begin the hack. The process only takes a few seconds but leaves you vulnerable, so make sure the surrounding area is clear before starting.

Once the terminal is successfully hacked, the contract will immediately trigger the next stage.

Step 2: Defeat the UESC Commander

After the hack is completed, a powerful enemy called the UESC Commander will spawn outside the location.

This enemy is significantly stronger than typical NPC units.

What Makes the Commander Dangerous

• Equipped with purple-tier shields

• Uses aggressive movement patterns

• Carries high-damage weaponry

• Often supported by nearby enemies

You’ll see a special objective marker indicating the commander’s location, so tracking them down should be straightforward.

Tips for Defeating the Commander

1. Bring Plenty of Ammo

The commander’s shield can absorb a large amount of damage, meaning fights often last longer than standard engagements.

2. Fight as a Team

While solo players can defeat the commander, squads make the fight far easier. Coordinating focus fire can quickly break the enemy’s shields.

3. Use Cover

The commander frequently pushes aggressively, so staying behind cover and forcing them into predictable angles can prevent unnecessary damage.

Once defeated, the commander will drop a key quest item:

UESC Shipping Manifest

Picking up this item immediately starts the next stage of the contract.

Step 3: Scan the Shipping Container

After collecting the manifest, a three-minute timer begins. During this time, you must locate and scan a specific shipping container nearby.

Fortunately, the correct container is always located close to the previous objective area.

What the Container Looks Like

Look for stacked shipping containers, where one container sits directly on top of another.

Multiple stacked containers may appear in the area, so you’ll need to approach them individually until the correct one appears.

When you reach the right container, a prompt will appear:

“Scan Shipping Container”

Interact with the QR code marker on the container to complete the scan.

Once the scan finishes, the contract objective will be successfully completed.

Extracting Safely After Completion

Even after completing the objectives, your run isn’t technically finished until you either extract or return to the hub.

If you are eliminated after finishing the tasks but before extraction, the contract progress can still count depending on your mission state, but extracting safely is always the best option.

Extraction Tips

• Avoid unnecessary fights after finishing the scan

• Stick to the edge of the map when possible

• Move quickly toward the nearest extraction zone

Since Dire Marsh can contain both AI enemies and hostile players, remaining cautious during this final stage helps ensure you don’t lose your progress.

Rewards and Unlocking the Traxus Faction

After the run ends, return to CyAC to turn in the completed contract.

Doing so unlocks the Traxus faction, giving you access to:

• New faction contracts

• Unique gear rewards

• Reputation progression

• Additional mission opportunities

Faction progression often requires gathering materials and rare resources throughout future runs. Some players accelerate their loadout progression by obtaining Marathon Items for Sale, which helps them build stronger equipment sets faster.

Similarly, advanced upgrades frequently rely on rare crafting resources. If you’re aiming to enhance gear quickly for higher-level contracts, many players choose to Buy Marathon Cores to unlock upgrades without spending hours farming.

Tips for Completing the Contract Successfully

Because the entire mission must be finished in a single run, preparation plays a huge role in success.

Use Stealth When Possible

Dire Marsh can attract attention quickly. Avoid unnecessary fights that could delay the mission or drain resources.

Land Close to an Objective

If your drop location allows it, landing near Intersection, Complex, or Bio-Research reduces travel time and lowers the chance of encountering hostile squads.

Prioritize the Timer

Once the Shipping Manifest is obtained, the three-minute timer becomes the biggest threat. Immediately begin searching for stacked containers.

Watch for Other Players

High-value contract areas are often contested by other players who may attempt to ambush you during objectives.

Final Thoughts

The Introducing: Traxus Priority Contract is one of the first major faction unlocks in Marathon, but it still presents a challenge due to its single-run completion requirement.

By following the steps below, you can complete it efficiently:

1. Hack the terminal at Intersection, Complex, or Bio-Research

2. Defeat the UESC Commander and collect the Shipping Manifest

3. Scan the correct stacked shipping container

Once completed, you’ll unlock the Traxus faction and gain access to new contracts, rewards, and progression opportunities within Marathon.

With good preparation, a coordinated team, and a clear route through Dire Marsh, this contract can be completed quickly and safely — bringing you one step closer to mastering Marathon’s faction system.