Project Boussh: Ostentatious Subterfuge
by Nick Coghlan

Nick read the report on the arrival of Kell and friends in growing
disbelief. "What in hell were they thinking? Arriving in a public place?
Playing with the minds of innocent bystanders?" Josh had told him he
wouldn't believe the report, but this?

A serious of thumps from closer to the door caused Nick to look up from
the report. Ooryl rounded the last of the piles of junk, muttering what
sounded suspiciously like curses.
"Have you seen this?" Nick pointed at the report on the computer screen.
"What? Oh yes. It looked like it went rather well actually."
"Rather well!??" Nick was incredulous. "Arriving too early, in front of
everybody? Messing with the memories of all those people?!"
"Oh. Oooryl thought you had been told."
"Told what?!"
"Qrygg is sorry. Qrygg should have thought to confirm Qrygg's
assumption."
"What?!" Nick looked at the expression on Ooryl's face and mentally
shifted gears. "OK, apology accepted. Now tell me what you're talking
about."
"Kell, along with Tyria & Runt, is a highly visible diversion. Wedge
decided that it was unlikely we would be able to hide everything we are
doing from whoever is responsible for Quiara's dissapearance."
"Isn't that why you two are here, instead of in America?"
"It is, but Wedge didn't feel it was enough. Face, unsurprisingly,
suggested we try to hide in plain sight - by giving our suspected enemy
an obvious focus for their attention. With any luck, it will make the
job easier for the rest of us."
"OK, but I thought the whole idea was to avoid spooking those guys. I
mean, we've got no idea how they will react. You might be putting Quiara
in grave danger."
Ooryl shook his head. "Ooryl respectfully disagrees. The only
information they have to go on is the same squadron histories you have
read, as well as that report in front of you. The enemy obviously have
some agenda that conflicts with your own, and they appear to have a
lower opinion on the accuracy of the accounts of the squadron's exploits
than you do. Now, if the only information you had was the report in
front of you, what would your reaction be?"
"I'd be inclined to consider Kell, Runt and Tyria as clumsy, arrogant
and overly self-confident."
"And there you have it. Tyria was sure she could put together a strong
enough suggestion to get the band to finish their practice, but after
that? The people holding Quiara are sure to find out about the arrival
of the Wraiths eventually - but the manner of arrival reduces their
apparent threat level. From Ooryl's point of view, it means they are
less likely to overreact and harm Quiara before we have a chance to get
a proper grip on the situation."
Nick sat back and rubbed the stubble on his chin "I guess that sounds
reasonable, but aren't those guys being a little unsubtle about it? I
mean, aren't they being so clumsy that it's obvious they're just a
diversion?"
"Not really. Don't forget, you probably place much greater faith in the
accuracy of the squadron histories than the people holding Quiara. Where
you see a conflict with the histories, and can't believe Kell could be
that clumsy, they see Kell being that clumsy and take it as evidence
that the histories are little more than overblown Rebel propaganda. Same
evidence, different conclusions."
"OK, why not tell Becki about it then? I mean she would have been able
to help wouldn't she?"
"Yes and no. Kell was going to tell her when he thought best. Don't
forget that they have to at least appear to be trying to keep their
presence secret. Even if their efforts are deliberately flawed, it's
important that they appear to be trying. Hence Tyria's effort with that
suggestion through the Force. She was only encouraging the band members
natural disbelief in what they had just seen, but it still can't have
been easy for her. She and Corran weren't actually sure how long the
effects would last, but once they wear off it will appear that she tried
to conceal the Wraiths' arrival and failed."
"Sh*t, you guys really don't mess around do you?"
"Of course not. Even if Wedge passed on the job you offered him, he
still feels somewhat responsible for the people who were behind the
campaign. If that means bringing the full resources of the Rogues and
the Wraiths to bear in order to find Quiara, then that's what he'll do."