Andi lies on his back across the bench seat of the APC. Behind his head the grey box of Maggie blinks away to itself.
"Some how I can't see them letting me borrow a drop ship for you to play with. Not after the bike incident and what happened to the last one."
"Why is that important?" Meggie asks.
"I was hoping to give you a play with as many different vehicles as possible before we stick you in the power suit."He sighs. "There must be some way." He hits his forehead. "Oh Dhuo. Maggi can you access Meny?"
"Of course. "
"Well somewhere in there, probably under some training sub directory in the Pilot Nav section, there will be the simulator programs for Dropships."
"I have located it."
"Is it in use."
"Yes. There is a team of 16 students currently using the simulators."
"Well when its free have a look at it. It's better than nothing. Just don't change any of the settings, or at least change them back if you do. I don't want to piss off Meny."
"Understood. Is there anything else?"
Andi stares up at the ceiling. His eyes rest on his medal hanging from the roof. The old paranoia rises again."I'd like to know where the Core are." He states.
Maggies reply catches him by surprise, the question had been rhetorical.
"Data from Third Eye News. Core Unit one are off planet on a Platinum Mission. Core Unit two are performing a silver BPN at Meny. Core Unit three are sweeping up the last of thresher Resistence in Cannibal Sector 4. Footage exists. Core unit four are still on a Black BPN issued to them three months ago. There has been no contact from them for three weeks."
Andi shrugs.
"Core Unit five and six are in basic training at Meny."
Andi sits up at stares at the box. "What?"
"Core Unit five and six are in basic training at Meny." Maggie repeats.
"There isn't any Core Units five and Six." Andi responds.
"That is not what the records say. Unit five and Unit six under going basic training at Meny."
Andi frowns. "The core completed their basic training over three years ago." May be they had persuaded other rejects like himself back into the fold. "Who is in Units Five and Six?"
"I am afraid you are not cleared for that information."
"Is Rich?"
"No."
Andi lies down again. "More Core units?" He mulles. "What are they doing breeding them?"
"I am afraid you are not cleared for that information."Maggie responds.
"I doubt I want to know any way." He responds sadly.
"What do you wish me to do with the information?"
"Stick it in the Window. I might need it in the future. What was the Black BPN?"
"Details are sketchy. Just a name and to report to head office."
"The Name?"
"Alexi Carter-Smith."
"Who is he?"
"I am afraid you are not cleared for that information. SCL minimum on the BPN is 5."
"I could start getting paranoid here."
"Getting?" The screen developes it smile.
"Oh don't you start."
"Alexi has just driven into the Guarage. He seems to have the parts we need."
"Back to work then." He stands up. "Maggie, don't mention the Core to any one else ok?"
"Understood."