Chapter 1

Captain, being held by you is not quite enough to get me excited. – Leia Organa – Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Hoth – Rebel Base - Hangar Bay

"Awwww, Leia, do I have to go?" asked a very frustrated Luke Skywalker.

"Yes, you have to. The placing of the sensors is vital to the survival of the Rebel Base. It's important that we know when unknown spaceships come near to this planet. We can't let the Empire find out we're here." Leia started smiling," and anyway you won't freeze to death. You already have four more layers of clothes on than anyone else. Be happy that General Rieekan was kind enough to donate his shirt."

Luke pretended to look angry:" It's not my fault I come from a warm miserable dustball. You'll be sorry you ever disagreed with me once you find me frozen to death in a block of ice."

"Get going already!" said Leia sternly.

Leia watched as Luke got on his tauntaun and rode away, out into the blinding mass of snow outside.

"Hey, don't I get a goodbye kiss, Your Royal Highnessness?" Han teased.

Leia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She really didn't want to get in an argument with Han Solo right now. She ignored him and walked away.

"She's a strange one, isn't she, Chewie?" Chewie answered with a bark.

Hoth – Rebel Base – Command Center

Leia walked in and leaned over a chair to look at a screen.

"Anything new, General?" she asked Rieekan who came over to join her.

"Not really, Your Majesty, though the group with the tauntauns are working swiftly, the first few sensors are placed." Rieekan replied.

A few hours later, one of the many sensors started picking up signals.

"Princess Leia, Princess Leia, come quick!"

Leia and General Rieekan both went to the person who had called.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" Leia asked worriedly.

"One of the sensors have picked up a signal. Two ships are approaching." he said pointing at the blotch of colour blinking on and off on the screen.

"Are they Imperial ships?" Rieekan asked, his face going pale.

"No, it seems to be a signal from the Old Republic." He answered.

"Do you think it could be Imperial ships in disguise?" Leia questioned.

"It might be, but the Empire doesn't use ships that are that old anymore." The lieutenant stated.

"Princess, do you think we should contact it or shoot it down?"

"Let's comm it, there're only two ships, not something that could cause too much damage. It would be horrible if we had destroyed civilian ships." Leia decided.

Space over Hoth

"Force, what was that all about!" Anakin shouted over the comm.

"I have no idea, but we seem to be over the Hoth system." Obi-Wan replied, ever the calm one of the two.

"What are we going to do?" Anakin asked forcing himself to calm down.

"I say, patience." Obi-Wan answered. "I sense life forms on the planet, we can go down and ask them for help, as my hyperdrive is falling apart."

"What if they are separatists?" Anakin asked skeptically.

"Then we will take out our lightsabers and destroy all of them, like we do every single time we meet separatists." He said, still exuding calm.

The commlink suddenly beeped. Anakin switched away from Obi-Wan.

A female voice said:"Identify yourself and state your business, if you do not answer, we will shoot you down."