idk how much of this is going to come up in the fic ever but there's two parts to a kleos (kinetic-link exonervous operating system), one that has basically the entire control scheme of the machina and one that is synced to the pilot's resonant (or echo). you can make multiple of the pilot-side interface for the same machina but the machine-side and pilot-side have to be carefully linked together. and then it basically puts you in echo-vision rp duty mode but instead of perceiving yourself as someone else's memory-body you perceive yourself as a giant robot in real-time and your hands move on the controls instinctively, like how you don't have to think about what muscles to move to walk.

this means that kleos-equipped machina can be piloted normally by anyone (who knows how to. pilot a giant robot) but you need a separate pilot-side interface for each echo/resonant-having pilot in order for them to use the system.

also the pilot-side interfaces look like cute hairpins

(KLEOS backronym credit to @yrgirlkv)

“I’m turning on the KLEOS now, Cid.”

“Roger that, Mihri. Reading the KLEOS as active.”

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply and evenly. All around her, the cockpit of the warmachina was lit up with holographic screens reporting on every aspect of her surroundings, but none of that mattered right now. The hairpin-like device on her forehead was warm, and she could feel it guiding her toward the familiar mental state of the Echo.

Hear… Feel… That wasn’t it. She needed to go deeper. The machine was thrumming above her, below her, around her, like a living being. Focus on its heart, Cid had said, and your own will follow. She let herself sink into it.

The thrumming was inside her, now, and she opened her eyes, raised her hand, and saw the metal fingers flex as she moved them. She turned her head to the side and looked towards the catwalk at eye level. Cid and the other Ironworks technicians were so small compared to her now. “I’ve got it,” she said.

A complete rewrite of the Sorrows of Werlyt questline, focusing on Milisandia and the other pilots.

Chapter 1: Crossing the Rubicon on AO3 here

Milisandia blinked at Avilina. “The eikon-slayer and… an Ala Mhigan military commander want to take me shopping?” She still couldn’t quite believe she had woken up in Avilina’s inn room instead of an Eorzean prison, no matter what promises the head of the Ironworks (the long-lost Cid nan Garlond?) had made. Even though she had surrendered after the Overmind shut down, she was still (had still been?) a Garlean senior technician, Milisandia kir Squamatus, and had piloted a warmachina with full intent to attack Ala Mhigo.

Chapter 2: Interlude Mk. I: Red Birthmark on AO3 here

I'm going to color this, but I did a proper illustration of Mihri's Ironworks mecha from my FFXIV fanfic "Souls Weighed Down by Gravity." The sword is actually comprised of eight different bits that can fly and shoot separately, in the style of the Nu Gundam's funnels or the Gundam Aerial.

And colors!

I'm going to color this, but I did a proper illustration of Mihri's Ironworks mecha from my FFXIV fanfic "Souls Weighed Down by Gravity." The sword is actually comprised of eight different bits that can fly and shoot separately, in the style of the Nu Gundam's funnels or the Gundam Aerial.