The Mech Touch novel Chapter 7446

Chapter 7446: End of the Banquet

After the conclusion of the Terran event, the buzz still went on for many hours.

While Gloriana and the rest of the Larkinsons boarded their shuttles and returned to their fleet, Ves stayed behind for a few more hours in order to exchange information with his hosts.

The Terrans provided him with additional information and assurances about their latest schemes. The elven initiative had already become a highly contentious issue, but it shouldn’t affect the completion of the Arboreal Project.

"Elves and Woodsap mechs may be tied together, but they are not bound to the point where one cannot survive without the other." Master Laila Rebecca Devos told Ves in private. "If the heat becomes so bad that it becomes untenable to proceed with our original plans, then we will simply restrict our production to the human-compatible versions of Woodsap mechs. However, I must warn you that the Woodsap mech pilots who choose to undergo this process will end up stuck in bodies that no longer perfectly suit themselves anymore."

Though the Terrans had made a strong effort into reducing the negative side effects, the humans with Woodsap flowing through their veins would never become as limber and agile as before.

They lost the ability to run and sprint. The sluggishness that characterized their partially wooden bodies simply couldn’t support such sharp movements.

"Are you saying that you prefer for every Woodsap mech pilot to become an elf?" Ves asked.

"I think that if the Woodsap mech pilots are given a choice, over 80 percent will choose to undergo the Green Rebirth Ritual and be freed from their slow and clumsy human bodies." Master Laila Devos calmly responded. "Their physical impairments should not affect their piloting effectiveness, but it is still deeply uncomfortable for them to live their daily lives as monstrosities in human form. If they are told they have an opportunity to transcend their biological weaknesses and gain the body of an incredibly healthy elven body, we believe that most will accept this offer. Only those who maintain strong attachments to their human identities will be able to resist this temptation."

Framing the elven transformation as a temptation made it sound rather evil.

Because the Terran leadership were not stupid enough to ignore the very real possibility that introducing a second race might end up posing a serious threat to red humanity one day!

That future may be a decade or a century away, but so long as the elves manage to overcome their weak early period, they may grow powerful and numerous enough to become formidable opponents if they ever turned hostile towards humans!

The best way to contain this threat was to prevent the elves from propagating, but this was clearly not a viable choice.

Enough Terran leaders supported the elven initiative that it would take overwhelming pushback from the grassroots in order to sway their minds.

"So what does this mean for the composition of Woodsap mech pilots in the detachment that will be fighting alongside my troops?"

"To you, Ves, it means that most of the Woodsap mech pilots will be elves. The final roster is still being settled, but you can expect to see no more than 30 or so human test pilots. You and your fellow Larkinsons must make an effort to get along with them. This should not be difficult as we have given them express orders to cooperate with your clan. The Second Elf will be leading the unit, so try to build a good rapport with him. As a descendant of the Shuku Ancient Elven Clan, he is competent enough to assume the necessary responsibilities."

Ves was not too sure about that. Caracalla Shuku might present a strong image, but he seemed a bit too young for his position.

Then again, the same could be said for the likes of Yenya Aduc, Ves, Casella Ingvar and many other members of the ’younger generation’!

Ves actually suspected that the Terrans deliberately prioritized youth over experience when they made their leadership selections.

The two elven leaders were young enough to adapt to radical changes. They should also be much more susceptible to external influences, chief among them Gaia.

It would be a lot more difficult to expect old geezers who have already lived for a couple centuries to convert to elvenhood and worship a deity that used to exist in myth and fantasy!

"Is there anything else I should know, Master?"

"Not immediately. The Second Elf will brief you and the Saint Commander about the specific demands and conditions of his detachment. While he is important, he is not as critical as his female counterpart. We do not require you to protect him at all cost. Let him temper his strength and survival skills on the battlefield. If he wants to turn his nominal leadership into actual respect and authority, then he must earn his combat achievements the hard way. His soldiers will respect him otherwise."

"Well, I believe our forces will be able to give him enough chances to prove his valor." Ves promised. "What about the other elven leader?"

"The First Elf will remain behind in order to perform the Green Rebirth Ritual for many other elf candidates. She is not a soldier. We are not in a rush to pair her with a Woodsap mech and deploy her in the field. She has a greater role to play."

"I understand."

They talked a bit more before they finally separated.

As Ves returned to the Tarrasque, he almost got ready to retire for the night.

The revelations shocked him at first, but now he felt a sense of dread and anticipation.

He felt dread because he feared that the elven initiative may end up derailing the Terran Alliance and red humanity as a whole.

He also felt anticipation because he had observed enough about the elves to know that they possessed extraordinary capabilities.

What would they be like once they piloted their Woodsap mechs in a serious engagement?

Ves had a strong feeling that these elven Woodsap mech pilots would deliver him a surprise.

For now, he began to stop by his office in order to catch any messages or developments that he might have missed.

"Welcome back, boss."

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