Humans have done a lot to damage the Earth, and as a result, the corporations that govern the world implemented terrafixing, an autonomous and learning system that scours the planet looking for DNA in order to identify lost species and bring them back to life. For the most part, the terrafixing program is working well and the planet is on the mend. Unfortunately, during the last world wide war, the SICLE Wars, many weapons, vehicles and equipment were created with biological components, and when terrafixing comes across one of these mostly decayed relics of the past war, it brings them back. These reanimated war machines, known as remorts, wake up with some biological imperative that seems hellbent on taking out the various human cities that are scattered around the world.
Cry Pilot kicks off with Kaytu attempting to join the military. Knowing that his fake identity won't hold up to too much scrutiny, he schemes to join in the only way that will get him into basic training without anyone looking too closely at his history. Kaytu is going to become a Cry Pilot. The most effective weapon humans have against remorts are CAVs, semi-autonomous fighter ships designed by a trio of A.I.; CAVs require a human to be in the pilot seat, but the intended pairing between man and machine has never worked right. As a result, the military has installed remote controls for trained pilots to fly CAVs, but those CAVs still require someone physically in the cockpit. Enter Kaytu and similar volunteers. For many, it's a way to die serving their people, but if you manage to survive a mission in a CAV, then you get to join up with the military. Unfortunately, riding in a CAV is rough and most people who find themselves inside one don't survive the experience.
When Kaytu does make it into the military, he finds that he isn't being sent into any run-of-the-mill boot camp. He's told that his particular group of fresh recruits is part of some super secret program, and the rumor is, it's to help stop a new type of remort, one that is becoming frustratingly hard to pin down and analyze in order to determine the best way to stop it.
Kaytu will form bonds with his squadmates, including a fellow CAV volunteer named Ting and the daughter of a high ranking member of the brass named Ranna. He will find his skills honed on the rough streets (and from his hidden past) make him ideal for scouting, but he also has a personal problem, he seems to be unwilling to let his squad sacrifice themselves for the mission. In the world that surrounds Kaytu, this is not only bad for completing mission objectives, but it could also make his true identity apparent.
While reading Cry Pilot, I kept getting strong Starship Trooper vibes, more so the movie than the book, and mainly the parts of the movie that dealt with Rico's time in boot camp. Much of this story focuses on Kaytu's training and his growing bonds with his squadmates, and while there is action constantly throughout the story, most early bouts pale in comparison to the battles he and his team face in the last few confrontations of Cry Pilot.
Cry Pilot is a fun Sci-Fi read in an interesting future and I find myself eagerly waiting for the next installment, Burn Cycle to see how the events at the end of this novel shape the next one.
