Project Boussh: Murphy's Applied Laws
by Josh Nolan

"Most of my information is out-of-date by now," said Brad, "but I know
one thing that is probably not on the network at this time."

Josh leaned forward slightly.  "Yes?"

Brad studied Josh's face for a bit, and Josh briefly wondered whether
the Lieutenant should get angry at that.  *Show no mercy,* muttered the
stormtrooper voice unhelpfully, *Violence is the only language fit to
speak to a traitor.*

Before Josh could begin to react, Brad said, "The Rebel strike team
consisted of blaster-equipped..." Brad paused again, staring him
straight in the eye.  "...Ewoks!"

Josh backed away a bit at this revelation, trying to gauge what the
Lieutenant's reaction would be.  He put on a show of studying Brad's
face to conceal the pause he needed to review his own story, to better
understand his character.

The pause dragged on, and to break the silence, Josh asked quietly, "Do
you think me a fool?"  As Brad began marshalling his answer, Josh tried
to consider the implications of what Brad was revealing.

Josh had been expecting Brad to squeal.  Firm facts, speculations, and
even who and what was involved on the planet.  If Brad was, in fact, an
Imperial spy, for him to only present the use of blaster-toting Ewoks
for the 'Lieutenant' meant...

Brad ignored the words of the question, and cut straight to the
implication.  "If you had recovered the sensor logs from the base, I
would be able to demonstrate to you -"

"No matter, Major," Josh cut in, breaking his own chain of thought.
"The Rebels had some snipers hiding near your three captors when I
recovered you.  I suppose the easily could have been these... armed
Ewoks."  Josh flared his nostrils in an attempt to show what the
Lieutenant thought of the concept, tempered with the man's inability to
disprove Brad.  "Though, perhaps, gross incompetence in allowing a small
TIE base to be destroyed by little more than three people is an equally
adequate explanation."

The accusation bought Josh a little more thinking time.  If Brad was an
Imperial spy, then why would Vickie simply let him go?  Unless Vickie
was clueless - and not having met the lady, it was hard to tell...  Josh
had left his last statement hanging long enough.

"So.  The Rebels have taken to using the remnants of an endangered
species to further their ends.  Very well.  How many were there, and how
many of the Rebels were not Ewoks?"

Something Brad had said earlier leaped out of Josh's churning mind, and
Josh seized upon it.  "And how did your security allow this treacherous
civilian to co-ordinate with the Rebels?"

*No plan ever survives contact with the enemy,* thought Josh as he
watched Brad digest this question.  *Does Brad suspect I'm not an Imp?
Or is he playing both sides off against each other?*

As Brad drew breath to reply, another thought crossed his mind.  *Maybe
Vickie knew he was on the level.  Maybe I'm interrogating a New Republic
spy!*

*A New Republic spy who held your flatmate at gunpoint, then shot down a
pilot on our side,* Josh quickly replied to himself.  *Get real.*