***Chapter ****\[****\]****-- Corporal Adir Levin***

"Says here you're a, uhm, corporal?" said the NCO sitting across from
Adir.

"Yeah, I-" Adir began answering before being rudely interrupted by a
takeoff. They were sitting in the Technical Division part of Air Base
10, in the far north of the country. The building was absolutely
disgusting, and unfortunately situated a spitting distance from the
massive runway.

Both sat there stupidly waiting for the plane to take off. Adir assumed
it was big because it took much longer than usual. The NCO motioned him
to continue with the booming sound of the engine still hung back, but
Adir waited a bit longer. At last, the last wisps of the jet faded out.

"Yeah, I've long lost track of whatever's written there. I have no idea
what it says -- only that it's wildly inaccurate at this point."

"That doesn't sound right to me. We air force guys, we keep track of
things, don't we? Now, it says here you're from the headquarters."

"I haven't been in months."

The NCO cast a doubtful look at first, but seeing how Adir did not
flinch he continued.

"Before that, you were in, uh... Hm. Air base 30. You've gone around,
haven't you?"

"I've been there a grand total of six hours. Never stationed there."

"Look, it says right here in your file..."

"It also says I'm a first sergeant at that station, doesn't it?"

The NCO chuckled. "Now, don't be -- What? How did you know?"

"I told you so."

"You've been serving just under 18 months at that point. That doesn't
make any sense. No promotion could get you in this early."

Adir eyed him smugly.

"Where did you get this?" the NCO demanded, waving Adir's Ground
Personnel file.

"Where did *you* get *this*?"

"What??"

"I left mine in Hutspace. Well over a year ago. Whatever it is *you're
*holding I've never seen in my life."

The NCO sighed deeply.

"This is some mess of paperwork for your commanders. Never mind. I'll
send you back with the documents and your commanders can sort it out. HQ
loves this stuff."

Adir began to protest but was cut short. "But wait, you're not HQ now,
you said?"

"Nope. 15^th^ wing."

"Fine. You'll give them the papers."

The room fell silent.

"Anyways, you're here for a Computer Network Manager course -- but I was
told you came over from a computer profession already, something from
the greens. Is that right?"

"Yes. I'm a Computer Systems Infrastructure Manager."

"Never heard of it."

"It's from Communication Corps"

"That explains it. Is that it's brooch pin?", he asked, pointing to the
insignia on Adir's left breast pocket.

"Yeah."

"What's going on there? What is it?"

"It's a computer in the middle. Around it is the radioactive sign, for
some reason. All Computer Academy courses have it for some reason. And
it's split in three for the three arms of the army we get assigned in --
the green part for ground forces, the blue for navy and white for air
force. And there's a square root, for some reason."

"It's too busy."

"It is."

"So basically, you have to go through the whole course again. It's two
months in here, Air base 10, and you'd be assigned alongside the
privates. However, seeing as you're already familiar, we decided to
offer you the same test they get at the end of the course -- if you know
your stuff, it could save us all the trouble. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great. I wouldn't have come up here otherwise."

"Up to the building?"

"No, up north."

"You're a handful, aren't you?" the NCO remarked fondly. "But that's
someone else's problem. Look, I've asked Idan -- my most senior course
instructor, to swing by and ask you a few questions. If you're
reasonably familiar, you can take the test. He should be here any
moment."

"Sure."

"Would you like anything to drink in the meantime? Cold water? It's a
hot day"

"No, thank you kindly. I'm all good."

"There's some disgusting coffee too, if that's your thing"

"Not many other options in the military, are there? But thank you, I'm
all fixed. Nice of you to offer."

"Of course. It's common courtesy. Ah, that must be Idan! Come in!"

**