Unstable Isotope: The First Solo Mech Pilot

Cortana's lips curled into a faint smile. "Precisely. Your paralysis means your brain isn't expending resources to control your body. If we were to... fully sever the connection between your mind and the rest of your body, theoretically, your brain would have the capacity to handle the mech's neural load on its own."

Leo wasn't sure he heard her right "huh?..."

Max's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, wait. You're talking about making him completely paralyzed? Like, no chance of ever recovering? That's insane."

Cortana shrugged. "This is all theoretical, of course. We've never attempted it. But your friend is uniquely suited to test it. If it works, he wouldn't just be a pilot—he'd be the first solo pilot in UCSM history. A legend."

Leo leaned back in his chair, his thoughts racing. "You're saying I'd be... what? Giving up any chance of ever moving again? In exchange for a shot at piloting one of these things?"

Cortana stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "It's a choice only you can make, Mr. Trask. But consider this: your life as it is now—is it everything you want? Or would you risk it all for the chance to be something greater?"

Max grabbed Leo's shoulder, his voice urgent. "Don't listen to this. You've been through enough, man. You don't need to do this."

But Leo's eyes remained locked on the glowing schematic of the mech. For the first time since the accident, he felt something stirring inside him—a spark of purpose, of possibility. The question wasn't whether he could live without his body.

The question was whether he could live without trying.

Cortana stepped closer, her sharp eyes catching the flicker of something in Leo's expression—determination. A small smile crept onto her lips, though her tone remained clinical. "I see it in your eyes, Mr. Trask. That fire. That need for something more. You might try to deny it, but I know that spark when I see it. It's the same one I saw in the legends that came before you."

She leaned against the holographic console, the image of the mech casting faint light across her face. "I'm not here to give you a sales pitch, Leo, but I will tell you this: if you agree, I can push for resources that most candidates would only dream of. Custom neural augmentations, exclusive access to experimental tech, and even priority combat simulations. It's the kind of edge that turns a good pilot into a great one."

Max's voice cut through the room like a knife. "At what cost?" he snapped, glaring at Cortana. "You're talking about turning him into your lab experiment. You're dangling shiny toys in front of him, but what's the price?"

Cortana's smile faded, replaced by a hard, calculating look. "His efficiency," she admitted. "The more resources and modifications we provide, the more his system will need to adapt. It won't be immediate, but the neural load could begin to degrade over time. He might not last as long as a standard pilot in peak condition."

Leo blinked, his mind swirling. "So, you're saying I'd burn out faster?"

"Potentially," Cortana said, her voice softer now. "But it's not a certainty. The trade-off is real, though. You'd get to be at the forefront of the fight, but your operational years may be limited. I won't sugarcoat it."

She straightened, her expression growing darker. "But that's the least of your concerns, Mr. Trask. Let me tell you why this program exists in the first place."

The hologram shifted, showing grainy footage from classified intelligence reports. Cortana narrated as images flickered across the screen.

"Kaiju—biological nightmares as tall as skyscrapers, their origins still a mystery. They've been spotted more frequently on the fringes of our colonies, tearing through settlements like they're made of paper. Then there are the pirates and mercenaries. Rebels in the outer systems have been amassing weapons, including mechs salvaged from old wars or patched together from whatever scrap they can find. And they're not just nuisances anymore—they're destabilizing the fragile peace we've fought so hard to maintain."

The screen shifted to a mech combat recording. Two hulking machines, one clearly UCSM, clashed in a fiery battle, their surroundings reduced to rubble. Cortana's voice grew colder. "Every year, more of these threats appear. And every year, we get closer to the edge of losing control. Our resources are stretched thin. That's why we need pilots like you—people who can take risks, push boundaries, and fight for something bigger than themselves."

The hologram faded, leaving the room in silence. Cortana stepped closer to Leo, lowering her voice. "You're not just a candidate, Leo. You're an opportunity to change the game. To fight the monsters that would see humanity torn apart. You can be a part of that. But it's your choice."

Leo stared at the now-dark display, the weight of her words pressing down on him. The threats were real, the stakes undeniable. And for the first time, he didn't feel like a burden. He felt like a key.

Max shook his head, his voice low but firm. "Leo, you don't owe them anything. Don't let them use you."

Leo exhaled slowly, his gaze rising to meet Cortana's. "If I say yes," he said, his voice steady, "then I'm all in. No half-measures. I want everything you can give me."

Cortana's smile returned, this time warmer. "Then we'll make history."

Cortana, sensing that Leo needed more than just her words, activated the holographic display once more. A new set of images materialized: six figures standing alongside their towering mechs, each one radiating an aura of unparalleled skill and strength.

"These," Cortana said, her voice reverent, "are the six legends currently holding the front lines. They are humanity's spear against chaos, each of them a force to be reckoned with. Let me introduce you."

Mech 1: Ecliptica (Vanguard class/modified)

 Pilots:

 Captain Arlen "Vanguard" Bryce

 Personality: Cool, composed, and a natural leader. Bryce is the epitome of a battlefield commander, able to turn the tide of any engagement through strategic brilliance and sheer charisma.

 Achievements: Orchestrated the Skyline Offensive, where a single UCSM mech platoon held back an invading kaiju swarm until reinforcements arrived. Credited with developing new mech-based countermeasures against biological threats.

 Specialty: Defense and support. Bryce excels at fortifying positions and rallying troops under fire.

 Lieutenant Selena "Specter" Vos

 Personality: Mysterious, quiet, and deadly. Vos is a sniper and stealth expert, often referred to as the "ghost" of the battlefield.

 Achievements: Took down an entire pirate fleet by systematically disabling their command systems and assassinating their leaders, all while piloting a mech undetected.

 Specialty: Long-range precision and sabotage.

Mech Description: Ecliptica is a sleek, jet-black mech with angular, blade-like armor designed for stealth and manoeuvrability. Its primary weapon is a plasma lance, capable of slicing through kaiju hide and mech plating alike, paired with an advanced targeting array for sniper operations.

Mech 2: Titan's Wrath (Titan class/modified)

Pilots:

 Sergeant Drax "Hammer" Kolvar

 Personality: Loud, brash, and incredibly resilient. Kolvar is the type to dive headfirst into danger with a grin on his face, inspiring both awe and terror.

 Achievements: Famous for the Red Tide Incident, where he and his partner held off an entire mercenary fleet for 72 hours with no backup.

 Specialty: Close-quarters combat and brute force.

 Corporal Eli "Forge" Tanaka

 Personality: Quiet and methodical, with an engineer's mind. Tanaka is the yin to Kolvar's yang, balancing his partner's recklessness with calculated precision.

 Achievements: Personally modified Titan's Wrath during a battle, adapting its systems mid-combat to counter an enemy mech's unique capabilities.

 Specialty: Adaptability and mech maintenance during combat.

Mech Description: Titan's Wrath is a massive, tank-like mech with heavy plating and oversized arms designed for grappling and crushing enemies. It wields a shockwave hammer capable of emitting seismic pulses, stunning multiple targets at once.

Mech 3: Tempest Edge (Compact class/modified)

Pilots:

 Commander Freya "Storm" Varga

 Personality: Fierce, fearless, and unyielding. Varga is known for her ability to inspire entire armies with her fiery speeches and devastating attacks.

 Achievements: Led the charge in the Sundering Campaign, a year-long battle against rogue mech factions, claiming victory in what was considered an unwinnable war.

 Specialty: High-mobility assault and crowd control.

 Lieutenant Orion "Pulse" Kade

 Personality: Calm under pressure, with a sharp wit. Kade is the tactician behind Varga's fiery approach, ensuring every move is calculated.

 Achievements: Saved an entire colony from annihilation by devising a strategy that turned the enemy's kaiju against them using targeted neural disruptors.

 Specialty: Tactical strikes and electronic warfare.

Mech Description: Tempest Edge is a nimble, storm-grey mech with sharp, aerodynamic features. It's equipped with dual energy blades and a high-output jetpack, allowing it to slice through enemy forces with blinding speed. Its auxiliary systems include an EMP burst generator, perfect for disabling enemy tech mid-fight.

Cortana turned back to Leo, the holographic images still glowing behind her. "These are not just pilots. They are legends—each of them a testament to what humanity can achieve. And they are waiting for someone like you to stand beside them—or perhaps, surpass them. The question, Mr. Trask, is whether you're ready to join them."

Leo couldn't take his eyes off the mechs. They weren't just machines. They were extensions of the people who piloted them—symbols of strength, resolve, and hope.

For the first time in a long while, he felt like he could be part of something bigger than himself.

Max scoffed at cortana "that's one hell of a sales pitch…"

Cortana's voice dropped to a solemn, almost reverent tone. "These six are just the tip of the spear, Mr. Trask. There are dozens of legends, each with their own stories of triumph, sacrifice, and sometimes, failure. Some names are etched into history for their heroics. Others... well, they burned out before their light could truly shine. The choice you're making isn't just about survival—it's about legacy. Will you rise to stand among them? Or will you be another flame snuffed out in the void?"

Max stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Leo, don't listen to this manipulative nonsense! She's selling you a dream wrapped in a nightmare. You don't have to do this! You can live a life outside of this insanity."

Leo looked at Max, his oldest friend, and felt the pang of guilt tugging at him. But then his gaze shifted to the holographic display—the towering mechs, the legends that piloted them, the galaxy in turmoil. For the first time in months, he didn't feel like a broken shell of a man. He felt the embers of purpose reigniting inside him.

Turning to Cortana, he nodded. "I'll do it."

Max slammed his hand on the table. "Leo—"

"Max," Leo interrupted, his voice firm. "This is my choice. I've spent enough time feeling like I'm just waiting for life to pass me by. This is my chance to matter. To fight for something bigger than myself."

Max clenched his fists, his face a storm of anger and sadness, but he said nothing.

Cortana stepped forward, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Good. Then let's not waste any more time." She placed a stack of forms on the table. "Sign these. They're waivers and agreements for the procedure. Once you sign, there's no turning back."

Leo scanned the forms as best as he could, his hands trembling slightly as Max helped guide the pen. With each signature, the weight of his decision felt heavier—but also more certain. When he signed the final page, Cortana took the stack and gave him a small, almost approving smile.

"Well done, Mr. Trask. You've just taken the first step toward becoming a legend."