Empire Invasion
The planet of Tatooine emerges from a total eclipse, its two moons glowing against the darkness. Suddenly a Rebel Blockade Runner appears into view. Flashes of green and red lasers fill Tatooines orbit. A tiny sliver spacecraft, a Rebel Blockade Runner is being pursued by a giant Imperial Stardestroyer. Hundreds of deadly laserbolts streak from the Imperial Stardestroyer, causing the main solar fin of the Rebel craft to disintegrate.
An explosion rocks the ship as two robots, Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio struggle to make their way through the shaking, bouncing passageway. Both robots are old and battered. Artoo is a short, claw-armed tripod. His face is a mass of computer lights surrounding a radar eye. Threepio, on the other hand, is a tall, slender robot of human proportions. He has a gleaming bronze-like metallic surface of an Art Deco design. Another blast shakes them as they struggle along their way. "Did you hear that" said the frantic robot "They've shut down the main reactor. We'll be destroyed for sure. This is madness!" Rebel troopers rush past the robots and take up positions in the main passageway. They aim their weapons toward the door. "We're doomed!" The little R2 unit makes a series of electronic sounds that only another robot would understand. "There'll be no escape for the Princess this time." Artoo continues making beeping sounds. Tension mounts as loud metallic latches clank and the scream of heavy equipment are heard moving around the outside hull of the ship. "What's that" said the droid.
The Imperial craft has easily overtaken the Rebel Blockade Runner. The smaller Rebel ship is being drawn into the underside dock of the giant Imperial starship.
The nervous Rebel troopers aim their weapons. Suddenly a tremendous blast opens up a hole in the main passageway and a score of fearsome armored Stromtroopers make their way into the smoke-filled corridor. In a few minutes the entire passage is ablaze with laserfire. The deadly bolts ricochet in wild random patterns creating huge explosions. Stormtroopers scatter and duck behind storage lockers. Laserbolts hit several Rebel soldiers who scream and stagger through the smoke, holding shattered arms and faces. An explosion hits near the robots. "I should have known better than to trust the logic of a half-sized thermocapsulary dehousing assister... Artoo counters with an angry rebuttal as the battle rages around the two hapless robots.
The awesome, seven-foot-tall dark lord of the Sith makes his way into the blinding light of the main passageway. This is Darth Vader, right hand of the Emperor. His face is obscured by his flowing black robes and grotesque breath mask, which stands out next to the fascist white armored suits of the Imperial Stromtroopers. Everyone instinctively backs away from the imposing warrior and a deathly quiet sweeps through the Rebel troops. Several of the Rebel troops break and run in a frenzied panic.
A woman's hand puts a card into an opening in Artoo's dome. Artoo makes beeping sounds.
Threepio stands in a hallway, somewhat bewildered. Artoo is nowhere in sight. The pitiful screams of the doomed Rebel soldiers can be heard in the distance. "Artoo! Artoo-Detoo, where are you" yells Threepio. A familiar clanking sound attracts Threepio's attention and he spots little Artoo at the end of the hallway in a smoke-filled alcove. A beautiful young girl stands in front of Artoo. Surreal and out of place, dreamlike and half hidden in the smoke, she finishes adjusting something on Artoo's computer face than watches as the little robot joins his companion. "At last! Where have you been?" Stormtroopers can be heard battling in the distance. "They're heading in this direction. What are we going to do? We'll be sent to the spice mine of Kessel or smashed into who knows what!" Artoo scoots past his bronze friend and races down the subhallway. Threepio chases after him. "Wait a minute, where are you going?" Artoo lets loose a couple of chirps and beeps.
The evil Darth Vader stands amid the broken and twisted bodies of his foes. His apprentice Darth Venus stands next to him just as imposing. Vader grabs a wounded Rebel by the neck as an Imperial Officer rushes up to the Dark lord. "The Death Star plans are not in the main computer." Vader squeezes the neck of the Rebel Officer, who struggles in vain. Darth Vader looks at the Rebel, "What have you done with those plans?" The Rebel Officer responds "We intercepted no transmissions. Aaah...This is a consular ship. We are on a diplomatic mission." "If this is a consular ship..were is the Ambassador" interjected Venus. The Rebel refuses to speak but eventually cries out as the Dark lord begins to squeeze the officer's throat, creating a gruesome snapping and choking, until the soldier goes limp. Vader tosses the dead soldier against the wall and turns to his troops. "Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans and bring me the Ambassador. I want her alive! The Stormtroopers scurry into the subhallways.
The lovely young girl huddles in a small alcove as the Stormtroopers search through the ship. She is Princess Leia Organa, a member of the Alderaan Senate. The fear in her eyes slowly gives way to anger as the muted crushing sounds of the approaching stormtroopers grow louder. One of the troopers spots her. "There she is! Set for stun!" Leia steps from her hiding place and blasts a trooper with her blaster pistol. She starts to run but fell by a paralyzing ray. The troopers inspect her inert body. "She'll be all right. Inform lord Vader we have a prisoner."
Artoo stops before the small hatch of an emergency lifepod. He snaps the seal on the main latch and a red warning light begins to flash. The stubby astro-droid works his way into the cramped four-man pod. Threepio says to his little friend "Hey, you're not permitted in there. It's restricted. You'll be deactivated for sure.." Artoo beeps something to him. "Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease! Now come out before somebody sees you." Artoo whistles something at his reluctant friend regarding the mission he is about to perform. "Secret mission? What plans? What are you talking about? I'm not getting in there!" Artoo isn't happy with Threepio's stubbornness, and he beeps and twangs angrily. A new explosion, this time very close, sends dust and debris through the narrow subhallway. Flames lick at Threepio and, after a flurry of electronic swearing from Artoo, the lanky robot jumps into the lifepod. "I'm going to regret this."
On the main viewscreen, the lifepod carrying the two terrified robots speeds away from the stricken Rebel spacecraft. A chief pilot calls over to his captain, "There goes another one." "Hold your fire. There are no life forms. It must have short-circuited" responded the captain.
Artoo and Threepio look out at the receding Imperial starship. Stars circle as the pod rotates through the galaxy. "That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here." Says the golden paranoid droid to his little friend. "Are you sure this thing is safe?"
Heat waves radiate from the dozen or so bleached white buildings. Luke pilots his Landspeeder through the dusty empty street of the tiny settlement. An old woman runs to get out of the way of the speeding vehicle, shaking her fist at Luke as he flies past. "I've told you kids to slow down!"