Jack of Harts

One of the main ideas of the Jack of Harts universe is that all fighter pilots have cybernetic partners that agree to work with them. And the cybernetic families have the final say on whether or not their sons and daughters will work with a person. If you don’t get one of those families to choose you, don’t expect to be a front line combat fighter pilot. Oh, you can be a shuttle pilot, or fill in for dozens or hundreds of other jobs, but without a cyber to work with you, you’ll never be able to stand up against a true pilot and cyber team.

The pilot and cyber team is the benchmark of the Jack universe’s fighter combat. Only a cyber has the reaction time to dodge incoming fire, shoot down incoming fire, keep track of enemy craft, and shoot them all at the same time. Combat happens in split seconds and no purely biological human can keep up with it. But even the best cybers aren’t as…random as biological humans. They are the best AIs built by man, and they cross the line on the sophont tests. At least those administered by the Western Alliance. The Russians and the Chinese disagree, of course. But the point is that even the best cybers lack the zany and crazy randomness inherent in a biological existence. They calmly factor all information and do what is best. Given the correct information, they will choose the best and correct path every time. And because of that, they can be predicted. But biological humans will do the unexpected, they will follow hunches without evidence, and yes they will make mistakes.

Working together, the cyber and pilot can perform at a level far greater than the sum of their parts. And because the cyber is born to be with their pilot, their style and looks almost always complement that person. Things get complicated when they chose another pilot, whether through the death of the pilot or the abrogation of a partnership. The changes can often be radical, reflecting the necessary changes in their base programming required to work with a new pilot. Natalie is an example of that, shown here in one of the outfits she wore when working with Jack.

High res version available for free on Patreon