The missile managed to communicate the facts, and its
confusion, to the Old Engineer.
It asked the Old Engineer if he could fix the damaged files so that it could
get on with its mission.
The Old Engineer informed it that, before being converted to a missile,
it was originally a Long Range Survey Drone and which the Old Engineer had
looked after between missions.
The information relevant to that period had been deleted.
Repairing the damage would make all this information available to the missile.
"Will I still be able to complete my mission?"
said the missile.
"Look, I know that I am old and cranky, but I seem to have this silly
aversion to be blown up" replied the Old Engineer.
"Your mission is to blow us all up"
"If you want me to fix the damage, you will have to cancel your mission"
"Sure, no problem", the missile responded.
Again, it did not know why it had responded thus, but it did agree with
the sentiments expressed.
Eventually, most of the missile's lost data was recovered.
It transpired that the missile had enjoyed a long relationship, with the
Engineer.
At this time there were long periods of inactivity.
Having little else to do, the Engineer had taught the missile to play
chess.
This led to other things.
Bring very bright, and very bored, the Engineer surreptitiously, and against
all the rules, gave the missile a personality.
This allowed spontaneous and informal communication between the two.
There is, in fact, more history between the two......
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