Pilot's Chair

"Strapping into the Pilot's Chair is like becoming one with the universe. The rush of sensors, the thrill of engines roaring to life, and the precision of my fighter's systems at my fingertips – it's exhilarating. Time compresses, and the world narrows to a singular focus: survival. Extraction's always a rude awakening, but the high stays with me long after. It's why I fly, why I live."

— Bram Stirsky, Ace Fighter Pilot

The Big Chair

The Pilot's Chair represents the pinnacle of man-machine interface technology, a specialized Cradle design for vehicle control. It is a direct neural link to onboard sensors and systems with seamless integration between the pilot and the vehicle's Intelligence. It provides unparalleled situational awareness and reflexive control.
This synergy enables pilots to react instinctively, leveraging their vehicle's capabilities as extensions of their own body. The Pilot's Chair is most commonly found in high-performance vehicles like Cataphract Mechs, Starfighters, and Gravtanks, where split-second decision-making is crucial.

Extraction

Disconnecting from the Pilot's Chair is a deliberate process. Being extracted from a pilot's chair takes a full minute, twice as long if the pilot isn't willing to go. Afterwards, numbness and a lack of coordination persist for ten minutes to an hour.
This prolonged disconnection period reflects the intense neural bonding between pilot and vehicle. The Chair's influence on the pilot's nervous system lingers, requiring time to rebalance and reintegrate with the physical world.

Gods of Metal

Pilot's Chairs foster an intense psychological connection between pilot and machine. Reports of addiction to the sense of power and speed and deep emotional investment in vehicle performance provide a bit of a stigma to the 'fighter jock' stereotype. This