Pilots

Pilots are people who are capable of piloting a Mechamon in battle. The Mechamon must be captured and reprogrammed using a Mechadex before they can be safely piloted.

Purpose
While all Mechamon function on their own due to an auto-piloting system, their capabilities are enhanced when an able pilot is behind the controls. This allows them to reach a higher potential depending on their type. In game, the Pilot functions as a type of Item that has a specific effect on a mechamon. Due to the obscured history of the Mechamon, no one knows why they have cockpits and are seemingly meant to be piloted. During the Lactea Conflict, the Empire used this to their advantage. With the invention of the Mechadex, the Empire quickly destroyed the fleets of The Confederacy with the strength of the Mechamon. After obtaining a Mechadex during The First Battle of White Duke, the Free Colony League was able to begin their mission to defeat the Empire

Dangers
In battle, when a Mechamon loses all energy, it is destroyed in an explosion. Pilots who control Mechamon are in constant danger every time the enter a battle. If a Mechamon is destroyed, so is their Pilot. Many Pilots lost their lives in battle. The Empire suffered the most casualties, however it is unknown how many pilots were lost by the FCL.

Notable FCL Pilots
In the early days of the Lactea Conflict, the Free Colony League did not have many capable pilots. The majority of them were assigned to The Vessel, the ship under the command of The Protagonist. During their mission, they were able to recruit pilots to assist them against the Empire. Many of these pilots were not bonafide Mechamon pilots, but they excelled under pressure and were quickly able to learn the ropes.

Notable Imperial Pilots
The Empire was able to train large quantities of Mechamon Pilots in order to establish dominance. Some of them may have lacked skill, their powerful Mechamon and sheer numbers were able to compensate for their deficient training. There were however, a few extremely skilled Pilots that were employed by the Empire, including each of the Eight Admirals and the Four Guardians.

Other Notable Pilots
After the FCL obtained the Mechadex, a large number of them were lost to pirates and other factions existing in Lactea. Many were distributed illegally to the various pirate leaders and other bandits, many of them skilled Starfighter pilots, were easily able to make the transition to Mechamon.