Giant War (V)

Faced with the Imperium admiral's question, the technician did not evade it. He merely shrugged and replied:

"Titans are near-perfect creations, but human flesh is truly frail. If a princeps makes one mistake, hesitates for a moment, or overlooks a single detail, the machine can be damaged. Victory and defeat are decided in an instant; life and death in the blink of an eye... One wrong code, one false alert, and everything is over. That is why only the very finest of mankind can be chosen to drive an engine, and why we hold our princeps in such high regard."

"Because not everyone can do it?"

Yushikin's question was careful, for it might well have touched upon one of the other side's higher secrets.

"One in ten thousand is no exaggeration."

Yushikin turned to look at Alfred. He was still watching the battle intently through the imaging device, a faint smile on his lips that mingled reluctant respect, professional focus, and considerable awe.

"Impressed, sir?"

The Wizard nodded in reply.

"Indeed."

"You should be."

The technician was the one who interjected.

"An engine battle on this scale is now an exceedingly rare spectacle."

"Sorry."

Alfred smiled.

"Actually, I was watching the Orks. Those fellows can really fight."

It was no joke, and the room fell silent for a moment.

"Did this sort of thing rarely happen even in the past?"

The Imperium admiral turned his gaze toward the technician.

"Extremely rarely. An entire Titan Legion fighting an enemy force of comparable strength in open terrain? Military operations of this scale have become legend. Most actions requiring engines can be resolved with no more than one or two machines. That is the military advantage Titans bring—a tiny number is usually enough. Anything that happens next will be enough to enter the