Stalker Protocol

Stalker Protocol is a passive trait ability belonging to the Recon Runner Shell in Marathon. When the Recon breaks an enemy's shield through weapon damage, Stalker Protocol activates and reveals a holographic trail behind that enemy, displaying the path they are taking as they move. This trail persists for a limited time, giving the Recon and their squad persistent directional information about a damaged target's movement even through walls and around corners.

Stalker Protocol transforms every shield-break from a mechanical combat event into a sustained intelligence advantage, bridging the gap between initial contact and final elimination. A Recon who chips down enemy shields can effectively trail targets across the map, making it extremely difficult for opposing Runners to safely disengage and recover. This trait pairs powerfully with the Triage's Battery Overcharge, which also triggers on shield breaks, meaning a Triage-Recon squad generates both disruption and trail-based positional data from the same shield-breaking actions. The combination of Stalker Protocol and Echo Pulse can leave enemy teams with almost no ability to move unseen.