Project Boussh: Treachery! Intrigue!
by Brad Corletti

"So Piggy, have you figured out which class-"

Nick is interrutped by the whine of repulsorlifts overhead. Startled,
he rushes over to a window to see what it is.

A B-wing is settling to the ground under the jacarandas, next to the
two camouflaged X-wings. The canopy opens and a pilot in white
descends to the ground.

"Are we expecting any guests, Piggy?" Nick asks.
"I've not been informed of any planned arrivals," Piggy responds.

Figuring anyone who arrived in a B-wing should find little unusual
about the appearance of a Gamorrean, Nick and Voort both greet the new
arrival.

The figure in white waves to them as he approaches.

It is Brad Corletti, Australian High Priest of the Crossed Strike
Foils.

"Hey Nick!" he yells, grinning.

After introducing Brad to Piggy, the three of them return to the unit.

"When did you get a B-wing, Brad?" Nick asks, admiring its crafted
beauty.

"Since that X-wing addon came out. It's a B-wing. B for Brad. How
could I refuse?" Brad answered. "Plus, it has big guns."

"No, I mean, how did you get it? I know you served in the New Republic
fleet for a short while, keeping Wedge's X-wing stocked with machinery
lubricants, but the New Republic isn't in the habit of just giving
away expensive starfighters."

Piggy's presence seems to cause Brad to clam up. "We can talk about
the past later." Is he hiding something from New Republic
Intelligence? "This is the first time a non-native Terran has ever
entered Australia. Why the hell didn't you give me a head's up? Don't
you trust me?"

Noticing Nick's guarded expression, Brad's eyes narrow. "This is about
that Thrawn/Pellaeon thing, isn't it? You suspect me of having
Imperial loyalties?"

"No, Brad, we don't. We just didn't think you were still active. You
dropped off the radar for an awfully long time there."

"Yes, but I'm back now. And just because I don't think we should be
wasting the Great One's time with a nothing world like Terra doesn't
mean I'll sit idly by while one of our own is kidnapped."

Piggy nods. "We are, though. Intelligence work is like that. We spend
most of our time going over reports from the other teams."

Nick smirks and winks at Piggy. "And trying to reverse-engineer the
combat equations in Diablo II."