COBRA (science fiction novels)
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For the series of novels by Joseph R. Rosenberger, see COBRA (action-adventure novels)
COBRA refers to a series of science fiction novels by Timothy Zahn.
[edit] Setting
In these books, a group of soldiers, known as Cobras, are augmented with bionic technology that enables them to carry powerful weapons. At the same time, these enhancements improve their reaction time, and many of their natural abilities (including perception). These modifications to the human body are concealed, and allow the soldiers to appear as ordinary unarmed civilians, when in fact the bionics are actually permanent. This allows Zahn to examine the position these individuals might fill in a society during peace-time. Their weaponry includes small lasers implanted in the little finger of each hand, an antiarmor laser that runs down the calf muscle of one leg and exits through a lens in the heel of their boot, plus an "arcthrower", capable of delivering a high-voltage pulse able to disrupt nearby electronics. In addition they are armed with two different types of sonic weapons- all of their weaponry is controlled by a "nanocomputer" that is implanted inside their skull. This computer also helps run the auditory enhancers, targeting computer, automated reflexes, etc. Each COBRA also has had significant surgical modifications, including ceramic laminae over all of their bones (essentially rendering them unbreakable), as well as servomotors at the major joints which act as strength (and speed) multipliers. The design of the nanocomputer and it's location (inside the brain of the warrior) makes it impossible to remove. A design feature of this same computer makes it impossible to reprogram.
[edit] Books
- Cobra (1986)
- Cobra Strike (1987)
- Cobra Bargain (1988)
The first two were also released in one compilation called Cobras Two in 1992. A complete compilation was released as the Cobra Trilogy in 2004.
In the first novel, Cobra, we see the effects of these warriors when they are both fighting among irregular forces and after a war when they return home. One of the major events takes place when the main character's (Johnny Moreau) nanocomputer believes him to be under attack by teens in a ground vehicle. The computer takes over his body and causes him to dodge out of the way. Recognizing that he is not in a safe position i.e. out of cover and at a bad angle, the computer again takes over his body to return the attack, firing lasers at the vehicles tires. This has the side effect of killing the two teens in the vehicle.
In the second novel, when faced with the choice of becoming mercenaries for their old enemies in return for new worlds to settle, the main character (Justin Moreau, Johnny's son) must find a way to achieve an objective without wholesale slaughter of another human colony.
In the third novel, the main character (Jasmine "Jin" Moreau) is a new breakthrough for Cobras. She is female. The daughter of Justin Moreau, she is one of a team selected to find out if another human colony is developing space flight, a real concern for the Cobra Worlds as the people of Qasama wish to seek out the Cobra Worlds and destroy them.
