Ten Thousand Fleets [Mecha, Space Opera, Academy]
novel
Arc Sandhurst will become a mech pilot, even if it kills him. After his sister's ship is attacked by the Pirate Queen of Nepenthe with all hands lost, Arc enters the Imperial Mech Academy on the deathworld Vidako in order to get revenge. The academy is the only place that the son of a silk-worker can get the enhancements that are required to pilot a mech - but first, Arc will have to survive disagreeable roommates, hazing from upperclassmen, the friendship of an imperial princess, and the steaming jungles of Vidako. Regardless of what Arc wants, the Imperium Stellarum will need every good pilot it can get - because empires are built on a foundation of blood, and the sins of the first emperors are about to come due. Lost fleets lurk on the edge of known space; the ruins of ancient races are spread across long-dead worlds; and enemies thought defeated gather their strength once again. War is coming to the Imperium. What to Expect: An intelligent but imperfect MC who progresses in capability and rank over the course of the series. Think the story arc of a Richard Sharpe, Horatio Hornblower, or Honor Harrington. MC will begin as a 4th class cadet and climb the ranks, gaining more autonomy and political power as the years pass. If you want to watch someone climb from cadet to admiral, this is the story for you. Progression elements include genetic modifications, cybernetic implants, humans paired with AI partners, and, of course, upgrading and customizing mechs through battlefield