Three years had passed since the Battle of Yavin and the Rebel Alliance was flourishing. Unfortunately they were still grossly outnumbered by the Empire. But the force was with the Rebellion as they had taken root on the ice world of Hoth.
Galen sat inside the warm main hold of the Rogue Shadow as he meditated.
"So this is where you've been hiding." Juno said as she entered wearing a thick jacket over her gray jumpsuit. Her hair was now being worn in a ponytail.
"It's where I can meditate without freezing to death." Galen replied as he stood up.
"Commander Skywalker is looking for you; he wants to see you before he goes on patrol." Juno said as Galen nodded.
"I would kiss you on the mouth now but I doubt that we want a repeat of what happened last week…how is your tongue by the way?" Galen asked as Juno opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, there was a small splotch of dead skin on the surface.
"I still can't taste a thing." She replied.
"Like there's anything to taste?" Galen asked as he headed out and down the boarding ramp.
He found Luke in a heavy snow suit along with Han as they stood by a pair of Tauntauns.
"Luke!" Galen shouted as he approached the farm boy.
"Master Galen." Luke said as Galen paused and gave him a disapproving look, "Sorry…Galen."
"Better…It's a good thing I caught you…when you get back from patrol I want you to start packing your bags, I have a special assignment for you." Galen said as Luke furrowed his brow.
"What is it?" Luke asked.
"You're not the only one master Kenobi's spirit talks to…he told me of a place where the last surviving member of the old Jedi Counsel is hiding…Jedi Grand Master Yoda." Galen said as Luke listened intently.
"Where?" Luke asked.
"The Dagobah system." Galen replied as Luke thought for a moment.
"Where?" he asked confused as Galen nodded understandingly.
"Tell you what, I'll upload the coordinates into R2-D2 and he'll guide you there ok." Galen said as Luke smiled and nodded.
"Will do Ma- uh Galen." Luke said as Galen shot him a knowing smirk and the farm boy mounted his Tauntaun.
A few minutes later, Galen walked through the halls to the command center where Rahm and General Carlist Rieekan stood monitoring the current situation with Princess Leia nearby.
"Generals, Princess." Galen greeted as he approached the huddled trio.
"Sir." Rieekan said with a salute.
"How are things outside? Anymore Wampa problems?" Galen asked.
"Still one too many meteorites for my taste." Rahm said with a nervous sigh.
"Forgive me for asking General but why are meteorites a problem?" Leia asked.
"Because if an imperial probe or scanner of any sort was to drop in unexpectedly we wouldn't be able to detect it due to the heavy meteorite activity." Rahm replied as Princess Leia furrowed her brow.
"How could we not detect it? Any shield emissions would be detected instantly." Leia said as Rahm shook his head.
"Yeah and I'm a ten year old Rancor that dances Mon Calamari water ballet." Rahm replied as Galen and the others gave him an amused look.
"Darn…and I thought you were a couple of years younger." Galen said as Rahm gave him a narrow eyed smirk as he shook his head.
"No actually I'm referring to an incident a young Jedi I once knew experienced only hours prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars." Rahm replied.
"Oh?" Leia asked interested.
"Ooh story time." Galen said as Rahm gave a chuckle.
"Well, it happened in low Geonosis orbit. Now Geonosis has rings around it made of rock and small asteroids, and it is known that sometimes some of the rocks slip orbit and fall to the surface. Well the young Jedi and his companion, a senator, discovered that if they used as few systems as they could, without shields and only their engines they could slip through the planet's atmosphere undetected or ignored because the locals would just think that it was another meteorite from orbit." Rahm explained as Galen thought for a moment.
"And with Hoth having that asteroid field nearby, there could be some major consequences for us if the Imperials decide to use that technique." Galen said as Rahm nodded.
"Hence my paranoia." He replied.
"Carlist…alert the patrols that they are to investigate every meteorite hit they see…if an Imperial Probe droid arrives I want it taken out immediately." Galen ordered as Carlist nodded.
"Good call, but it will take a little longer for the patrols to finish their rounds…some of them may even get too cold to function." Rahm said as Galen sighed and nodded.
"True but I would rather be cautious then be caught with our pants down." Galen replied as Rahm gave a nod in agreement as they headed for the door.
"Especially in this cold!" Rahm laughed as they ran into Han in the doorway.
"Han." Galen said to the smuggler turned General.
"Galen sir, I was hoping to run into you." Han said as Galen and Rahm could both sense that Han's mind was disturbed.
"Something wrong General?" Galen asked.
"Yeah I was just going to come and say that I can't stay. That encounter with those bounty hunters on Ord Mantell was just an unpleasant reminder that Jabba the Hutt's still got it in for me." Han said as Galen sighed.
"A price on your head is a hard burden to carry…we'll miss you Solo…good luck." Galen said as he gave the smuggler a hand shake and a hug before abruptly turning to Rahm.
"And if you give me that 'no-such-thing-as-luck' line again…you'll get stuck with a patrol shift in just your underpants." Galen said as Rahm gave him an innocent smile with a shrug.
"Yeah well at least someone will miss me." Han said glaring at Leia who chased after him, as Galen and Rahm dodged out of her way.
"Rule number one of relationships between mutual acquaintances…when the woman is on the war path there is only two options…retreat or death." Rahm said as Galen nodded knowingly before the two headed out back towards the hanger.
"Hey have you seen PROXY anywhere?" Galen asked as Rahm shook his head.
"Last time I saw him he was helping the Wookie make repairs on the Falcon." Rahm replied.
"Thanks I'll go look for him." Galen said as he ran for the hanger.
Inside the Hanger, Galen looked on top of the Falcon and saw only Chewbacca and another soldier.
"Chewbacca have you seen PROXY anywhere?" Galen asked the Wookie as Chewbacca grunted and pointed towards the soldier nearby.
"PROXY?" Galen asked as the soldier looked at him.
"Yes master?" the soldier asked with PROXY's uniquely filtered voice.
"Why do you have a hologram up?" Galen asked confused.
"Because it keeps my servos warm master…the holo-emitters get warm after a while and the heat keeps my joints from freezing." PROXY replied.
"Oh ok…just wondering where you were, was all." Galen said as he noticed Juno working on the Falcon as Han started moaning to one of the nearby mechanics about something wrong with the Falcon, and R2-D2 & C-3PO approached the smuggler.
"Master Solo! Master Solo!" the gold protocol droid repeated as he approached.
"Yeah what?" Han asked a little miffed that the Falcon wasn't ready to launch.
"Master Luke is nowhere to be found, he hasn't come back yet." 3PO replied as Galen took notice of the conversation.
"What do you mean he hasn't come back yet?" Han asked as Galen pulled out his command comlink.
"General Rieekan, what's the status on Commander Skywalker? Has he reported in yet?" Galen asked as Han, Juno, and the droids took notice.
"I see…ok keep me posted General." Galen said as he pocketed the comlink, "Skywalker hasn't reported in since he said he was going to investigate a nearby meteorite impact along his patrol route."
"Then we have to go looking for him." Han said as Galen closed his eyes and started meditating, he could feel Luke's life force still strong.
"He's still alive…Juno what's the status on the speeders?" Galen asked.
"We're still having trouble adapting them to the cold, but perhaps we could send the Rogue Shadow out there…her sensors might be able to detect him more easily." Juno suggested as Galen shook his head.
"No can do…the general said that sensors are picking up a large snowstorm approaching. It'll block the sensors and make flying even more difficult." Galen replied.
"Then I'll go." Han said as he threw on a snowsuit.
"You'll what?!" Galen and Juno asked in unison.
"I said I'll go. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not technically one of you guys anymore so you're not really losing anyone unless I can't get Luke back alive." Han argued as he mounted a Tauntaun.
"(Sigh) I suppose there's no stopping you…may the force guide you in your search, Han." Galen said as Han nodded.
"You do realize that you're Tauntaun won't survive long out there!" PROXY shouted down from atop the Falcon.
"Then I'll see you in hell!" Solo shouted as the Tauntaun raced out of the base.
Hours later…
R2-D2 was sitting near the open hanger doors with a small radar dish extended from his dome as he scanned for any sign of life. Galen then approached with a datapad in hand.
"Don't worry R2…they'll be ok…I can feel it." Galen said as he knelt down next to the droid who beeped a worried response.
"Here…when Luke comes back I'm going to need you to take him to this system here." Galen said as he showed R2 the datapad and coupled a small cable from onto a small slot on R2's dome.
R2 then beeped a confused reply.
"I know it's a strange request but…it's where one of the last living Jedi are hiding…and perhaps we can recruit him to help us…or at the very least provide Luke with some more adequate training than what I can provide." Galen replied to the droid as the cable detached from R2.
"You good?" Galen asked as R2 beeped his affirmative response, "Good…keep scanning though."
Galen headed back towards the rear of the hanger, towards one of the snow speeders that Juno was working on.
"How goes the modifications Juno?" Galen asked as he approached.
"So far so good…I think we may have our heating problem dealt with now." Juno said as Galen nodded.
"Good we can test them the second this storm is over to go look for Skywalker and Solo." Galen replied
"They're still missing?" Maris asked as she approached.
"Yeah…but they're alive, I can feel their life force is still strong." Galen replied as Maris nodded.
"Yeah, Master Kota and I can still feel them too." Maris said as Galen crossed his arms with a smirk.
"Speaking of masters…I believe congratulations are in order for making Jedi Knight." Galen said as Maris blushed slightly.
"Thanks Galen, I really didn't expect that master Kota would consider me ready…but then he set an elaborate test up for me with PROXY disguised as Master Shaak Ti having converted to the dark side." Maris explained as Galen arched an interested eyebrow.
"That's one of the reasons I still keep PROXY around…he can be very helpful for testing prospective Jedi." Galen said as Maris nodded.
"You know you're not so far off from being a master…you already can pull of maneuvers with the force that neither Kota nor myself can do…it's like you live in a perfect harmony with the force." Maris replied as Galen shook his head.
"No…I still have a hard time discerning light from dark…and I still have trouble keeping myself under control when it comes to even the most innocent of people sneaking up on me by accident. Just a couple of days ago I nearly took the head off of a soldier who rounded the corner unexpectedly…if I can't control that, then I'm no master." Galen replied.
"That's what you think." Rahm said as he approached, "Listen to yourself boy. You've just admitted that you have a problem and admitting it is always the hardest part…but because you admit it, that means you can begin the process of fixing your mistakes and in time…you will be able to prove that you can indeed shake off your old habits."
"True." Galen said softly as General Rieekan approached.
"Sir, we've still had no word from General Solo…and that blizzard is just getting worse, the shield doors must be closed." Rieekan said as Galen sighed and nodded.
He turned and watched despairingly as the shield doors to the hanger slowly closed shut with a loud boom. Chewbacca could be heard roaring in grief from nearby.
"I know big guy…I'm right there with ya." Galen said as he put a hand on the wookie's shoulder for a moment and headed off to the Rogue Shadow to meditate.
Later the next morning…
Galen could feel the excitement pulsing through some of the soldiers as he emerged from the Rogue Shadow.
"What's going on?" he asked one of the passing soldiers.
"Rogue group has located General Solo and Commander Skywalker and are on their way back right now!" the soldier replied as Galen smiled and ran for the hanger doorway just as a pair of snow speeders flew in over his head.
"Alright let's get these two someplace warm!" Galen ordered as they pulled an unconscious Luke Skywalker from the back seat of one of the Speeders.
Later Galen entered the medical ward where Luke was awake and recovering from his wounds in dealing with a Wampa.
"Luke…glad to see you're ok." Galen said as he approached his friend.
"Galen…Master Kenobi told me to go to Dagobah too…now I know that I really have to go alright." Luke said as Galen nodded.
"Later…but for now get some rest…Dagobah's not going anywhere…unless the Empire tries to build another Death Star." Galen said as Luke laughed.
"Yeah what are the odds of that?" Luke laughed as they heard a knock at the door.
"Come on in, I was just leaving." Galen said as Leia, Han, and Chewbacca entered.
"You don't have to go Galen." Leia said as Galen smiled and shrugged.
"Nah I've got work I've got to deal wi-…" Galen said as he felt something in the force and hurried out of the room.
He entered the command center as Rieekan noticed him.
"Sir! We have a visitor." The general said as Galen looked at the monitors displaying a small flashing blip on the radar.
"It's metal…" one of the officers reported, "…wait I'm getting something."
The officer pressed a button on the console as a strange electronic noise sounding like a strange language started playing over the speakers.
"Someone get PROXY in here on the double!" Galen ordered as an officer approached him.
"No need master…" the officer said with PROXY's tones, "…I already recognize that code…it is the same code used by Imperial Viper class Probe Droids."
"Frag…someone get out there and blast the damn thing before it gives us away!!" Galen shouted as a small group of soldiers ran out the door.
"I'm afraid it's too late master…the probe droid has located and identified our primary shield generators…the Empire has been alerted to our presence in the system." PROXY replied as Galen ran a hand over his face and sighed.
"Begin the evacuation procedures…even if the Imperials believe that the generators belong to a bunch of pirates they'll still send a ship to investigate and eventually detect us…raise the shields anyway just in case they try to sneak up on us." Galen said as Rieekan nodded.
A few hours later the Rebels were scrambling to pack up and leave. Only a few of the transports were filled and many of the less vital components had been or were being loaded.
Galen was walking along through the hanger as he saw Luke saying his farewells to Chewbacca and Han, he then spotted Juno approaching in a pilot's uniform.
"You going up with the speeders?" Galen asked as Juno nodded.
"I thought it would be a wise idea…let's face it I'd be more useful in the air than on the ground." Juno replied as Galen nodded in agreement.
"Just be careful out there…they detected the Imperial fleet drop out of hyperspace a few minutes ago but fortunately our shields are up so an orbital bombardment is out of the question for them." Galen said as Juno nodded and kissed him on the cheek.
"Wait…there's more…" Galen said as he grabbed her by the arm, "…I can sense that Vader's amongst them…but I'm going to try and do what I can on the ground out there…who knows maybe I can take down a few of their walkers with the force."
"If anyone can do it, it's you Galen." Juno said as she kissed him on the other cheek again before he let go and ran off towards the snow speeders.
"You know something…" Han said as he approached, "…you probably should marry that girl…you've been together for what? Five years now?"
"I've thought about it Han…I've really thought about it." Galen replied.
"And?" Han asked back.
"I've got an idea of what we're going to do when this war is over." Galen said as Han arched an eyebrow.
"Why wait? One of you may die out there and the other will be kicking themselves for not doing something beforehand." Han replied.
"True…very true." Galen said as he headed on board the Rogue Shadow to retrieve his lightsaber for the battle to come.
End Chapter 4