[@Lumiere] Physically, Pilots are altered using extensive gene therapy and cybernetic implants to make them more Shard-like, to integrate more completely with their Dragons. Mentally, they must train to commune with the AION (Artifical Instinct Override Network, essentially the brain of their individual Dragon) in order to operate in tandem with their personal alien.

Both regimens are equally difficult, enough so that approximately 1 in 4 Pilot candidates do not survive the process. Surviving Pilots, however, are physically stronger, faster, and more mentally acute than baseline or even most augmented examples of their species.

Plus, you know, they have a Dragon.