Deadly Brain

A Deadly Brain is a highly trained soldier whose nervous system has been implanted in a cybernetic security system. This project was an attempt to replace the control systems of a Type 3 Battle Drone with a grafted biological brain. Projections indicated that the reflex response of a direct neural link would be as much as twenty times faster than any remote or automated system. Brains were harvested for the Syndicate in hospitals by surgeons willing to falsify records in exchange for high paying consultancy positions with one of their "clean" corporations. Wounded military and law enforcement personnel were given the highest priority. Cybergenic implants conditioned the brains giving them the programming needed to control the drones. Sixteen prototypes were produced before the TCTF located the test facility. The prototype Deadly Brains engaged the TCTF, providing excellent live-fire field tests. Engineers attempted to exploit the advantages inherent in the speed of the neural link by interlocking batteries of free tracking ball mount plasma cannons designed to independently track and fire upon multiple targets simultaneously. In simulations the cannons were effective but in the heat of battle the friendly fire lockout would sometimes fail, causing the drone weapons to fire on allied units. In field tests against the TCTF half of the losses sustained were from rogue plasma batteries. Several attempts were made to remedy the flaws in the system but nothing provided satisfactory reliability. Final prototypes incorporated Screaming Cannon mounts with auto-tracking projectiles along with Auto-Pistol mounts to provide target suppression and covering fire which proved to be an effective mix for area denial and point defense. The greatest weakness of the Deadly Brain prototypes stemmed from their control interface. Brains harvested from trained combat personnel come from a lifetime of interfacing with human physiology so once integrated into the cybernetic system a barrage of alien data with no human frame of physical reference often overwhelms them. Given time the host brain can adapt and begin to utilize its new physical state, but that delicate equilibrium is easily upset by ghost physical data input through the command consoles of the drone. However approaching the command consoles of an active Deadly Brain was deemed virtually impossible, so this so-called flaw in the system was considered insignificant. Deadly brains were declared illegal by the TCTF, but Muro had Dr. Singh and Dr. Kafelnikov make one to guard the Musashi plant. Unfotunatly, it went beserk, but Konoko was able to deactivate it before any serious damage occured.