Project Boussh: Vive La Resistance
by Durandir

MENDELLIA: RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS

As the setting tropical sun turned the sea around Mendellia to fire, the
_Pulsar Skate_, following directions transmitted from Kell Tainer's datapad,
disappeared into one of the caverns piercing the steep face of Mendellia's
western cliffs.

Watching from the cockpit as Mirax executed another of her flawless landings
in the cavern-turned-hangar, Kristy could see a handful of TIE fighters
lined up in the cavern's depths, and what appeared to be an X-wing off to
one side. Little else was visible in the shadowy chamber.

"Looks like this is the place," she said, rising to join the rest of her
team at the _Skate_'s exit.

"It looks almost abandoned," answered Morwen from behind the Prophetess's
chair.

Kristy turned to see an uneasy frown cross her friend's face. "Becki sent
the all-clear signal, though," she reminded her.

"And scanners show five TIEs, three X-wings, as expected," Mirax added.
"Anyway, if Atner had beaten us to them, this place should be pretty chaotic
right now."

Morwen shook her head. "They're preparing to evacuate their main base. That
should mean a certain level of chaos, too. Not this...stillness."

"Well, let's be cautious, then," Kristy nodded. "But we can't stay here.
Come on." She led the way back to the exit, where Winter and Iella waited
with the repulsorlift stretcher.

~

"There they are."

From the shadows of the stair leading to the caverns above the hangar, Tede
and Becki watched the _Pulsar Skate_'s landing.

"Just in time," Tede nodded. "We'll have to move fast to clear this place.
Faster than Atner's vengeance."

"If only *that* weren't faster than Macavity after a songbird," Becki
sighed. "Come on." They set out toward their newly arrived allies.

~

Kristy and Morwen descended the ramp first, alert for any danger, with the
NR women covering them from within the _Skate_. The cavern was growing
darker as the sun beyond its entrance continued to set, but by now their
eyes were better accustomed to the gloom.

Movement towards the back of the cave caught Morwen's eye, and she reached
over to tap Kristy's arm. Following Morwen's line of sight, the Prophetess
could see two figures moving toward them.

The figures stopped; the smaller spoke. "My tables," came a woman's voice,
low and hushed yet echoing in the darkness; "meet it is I set it down, that
one may smile and smile and be a villain."

Kristy smiled, shook her head, and answered, "At least I'm sure it may be so
in Denmark. Becki?"

"Yep," the other answered, moving forward again. She was near enough to be
seen now: not much taller than the Prophetess herself, wearing a blue and
grey pantsuit that seemed unusually dressy for the rough surroundings of the
cavern, dark curls tied in a hasty knot at the back of her neck. Kristy
and Morwen recognized the Hoosier, having met her once before, when she was
acting as chauffeur to visiting dignitaries Wedge Antilles and Tycho Celchu
during their short-lived campaign for the American presidency. *Funny,*
Kristy thought at the memory of that time, *now it's Wedge and Tycho and
their womenfolk who are chauffeuring us.*

"Prophet Kristy, Morwen," Becki smiled as she came to stand before them,
"welcome to Mendellia."

"We're honored," Kristy laughed. "We probably could have picked a better
time to come, though. The tourism industry seems a little out of sorts, what
with all the stormtroopers everywhere..."

"No," a man's voice interrupted, and the second figure in the shadows
approached. "No better time. There's not much time left, in fact. Depending
on what happens in the next few hours, tomorrow there could be no Mendellia
for the tourists to visit. Possibly even no Terra."

Morwen and Kristy exchanged an uncertain glance, then looked back at the
tall man now standing beside their teammate.

Becki's smile faded. "He's right, I'm afraid," she said, "we've got to move
quickly. Atner will be here before we know it. Oh, but first,
introductions." She turned to the newcomer. "This is Tede Iestu."

"You're with the Resistance?" Kristy asked.

"Actually--" Tede began.

"Actually, he's with us," a new voice interrupted: Winter, now making her
way down the _Skate_'s ramp, Iella and Mirax following with the stretcher.
"Hello, Tede. I must confess I'm surprised to see you here. Perhaps I should
have known better."

"Hello, Winter," Tede answered calmly. "I must, in turn, confess that I'm
not at all surprised to see you. Our briefings were somewhat more thorough
than yours."

"Our?" Winter arched one eyebrow. "You're not alone? How many did Cracken
send?"

"Sorry. Can't say, not yet."

All through this brief exchange, the others gathered at the foot of the
_Skate_'s ramp were glancing from Winter to Tede and back again, puzzlement
deepening on their faces. Finally Kristy broke in:

"Hey, wait. You two know each other?"

"We've occasionally worked together," Winter smiled.

Tede smiled as well, showing dimples that gave the Terrans a strange urge to
giggle. "I'm with the NRI. Assigned here--unknown to anyone in General
Antilles's group, as you've probably realized--to aid and abet your efforts
in whatever manner I could."

"Well," said Kristy after a brief silence, drawing the single syllable out
as she collected her thoughts, "well, I won't ask how you ended up with the
Resistance, then, since we are short on time. But--well, let's just get this
evacuation under way, shall we?"

Becki nodded. "Come on, I'll introduce you to Thayer and the others, and
then we can get to it. Oh--good, you've got a stretcher. You got the message
about Rekla? He's going to need bacta as soon as we can get him to it."

"There's bacta on the _Red Home_," Kristy answered as they followed Becki to
the stairway. "We haven't heard back from them yet, but I'm sure they'll be
here soon. Ah--by the way, speaking of Thayer--what's the deal with that
password of yours? Why _Hamlet_?"

" 'Cause Atner would never think of it," Becki grinned over her shoulder at
them. "He has absolutely no taste in literaure."