Project Boussh: Soldier for the Empire
by Brad Corletti

Things had gone smoothly for Brad.

Oh, sure the Imps had been suspicious when he'd arrived; dropping out
of nowhere with a squint, a droid, and not officially being assigned
to this system, let alone this sector; but his story had been enough
to get him past their polite interrogation. Polite, because he *was* a
Major in the Imperial Starfleet, and the Empire believed in procedure
and the dignity of the officer corps as much as it did the force of
military might.

So Brad told his tale. How he'd infiltrated a Rebel cell, stolen a
B-wing, been pursued and shot down. How he'd ordered the other
casualty of the battle to be sent to the _Admonitor_ for medical
treatment - he hinted that she had been useful to him. He told them
that he had appointed himself commander of the Melbourne base when he
had arrived, as was proper for an officer of his rank, and tightened
the base's security measures. How one of the locals attached to his
command had somehow managed to collaborate with Rebels and stage an
ambush, giving the Rebels the intel they needed to later attack the
base.

And that they had, in fact, attacked the base, and captured him.

The part of his tale that resonated most strongly with the officers
present was of his interrogation. He told them of the trick they used
to gain the knowledge of the name of the ship, and that when he had
refused to tell them more, they had beaten him to within an inch of
his life. The officers nodded sagely at this; who among them had not
heard tales of Rebel savagery before?

Finally he told them of the uncounted days of enforced unconciousness,
and that he had eventually managed to escape only through the actions
of a sympathiser within the Rebel ranks.

When he concluded his tale, the officers applauded his devotion to the
Empire. Especially as they recognised Drake. The BLR-3025 line of
droids was a valuable asset to the labour-strapped Imperial forces.

Shortly thereafter, he was called to speak with Grand Admiral Thrawn.