I really dislike the melee combat in this game, so i searched the manual and read up on the Cyborg AI option to have the computer do the fighting, but i still don't understand the feature. What does does increasing Resolve actually do? What does flicker option entail, and would it help me any?

Assuming this is in reference to the second game, Star Control 2. Turning the Cyborg AI on lets the AI take control of your spacecraft during the combat encounters. Increasing (or Decreasing) the "Resolve" just determines how fast the encounter occurs. Increasing the "Resolve," in other words, speeds up the combat encounter so that it resolves faster.