Chapter 29- The Probe and Empire Discoveries
Lena entered the command center and stood next to her father as he and Rieekan looked at the consoles in front of them. "How's Luke?" Her father asked, keeping his blue eyes fixed on the monitors in front of him.
"Okay, I suppose. Han said he looked strong enough to pull the ears off a gundark, but judging from the scratches, he looks like he fell into a nest of gundarks," Lena said. Her father chuckled dryly
"Princess, Master Jedi, we have a visitor," Rieekan said sharply, looking at Leia, Lena, and Talon. Han joined them in front of Rieekan's console.
"Who, General?" Lena asked.
"I'm not sure, Your Highness. Picked up something outside the base's Zone-12 moving east," Rieekan said.
"It's metal," an aide at the console said.
"Then it couldn't be one of those creatures," Leia said.
"Could be a speeder, one of ours," Han said.
"No. Wait," Cora said, coming over to the console and pushing a few buttons with her small fingers. "There's something very weak coming through, Papa," Cora said, pushing a few more buttons as a noisy radio static filled the comm station. It was some computer code that even Jedi couldn't crack.
"Mistress Cora, Master Talon, I am fluent in six million forms of communication. This signal is not used by the Alliance. It could be an Imperial code," Threepio said from his station.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Lena said.
"I'm with you on that one, Princess. It isn't friendly, whatever it is. Come on, Chewie, let's check it out," Han said to Chewbacca behind him as they went to look at whatever was making static.
"Send Rogues 10 and 11 to Station 38," Talon ordered through the consoles comlink.
Lena stood next to her father, sister, and cousin with bated breath as she waited. The sounds of a laser and blaster fire filled the communications center, followed by a loud explosion. "I'm afraid there's not much left," Han said with a slight apology in his voice.
"What was it?" Leia asked.
"Droid of some kind. I didn't hit it that hard. Must've had a self-destruct," Han said.
"An Imperial probe droid," Leia said with grim finality.
"It's a good bet the Empire knows we're here," Han said, with the logic common to a smuggler and gambler.
"We'd better start the evacuation then," Talon said.
"I think you are right, Uncle. Will we have time to get everyone out of here?" Leia asked.
"I think so if we don't take everything with us. What we can afford to leave, leave it. We can pick it up elsewhere," Talon said sharply.
In the Kuat system Vader was keeping an eye on the transports and other fighters in his arsenal. So far all the probes he sent out to find his son and daughter were coming back unfruitful. Vader had never been one for patience. Not even as Anakin Skywalker, patience wasn't his strong point. Vader felt his nerves coil and his hackles rise by every minute his children eluded him.
"The visuals indicate life forms," Vader heard someone say behind him and he stalked over to a station where Piett and Admiral Ozzel stood arguing over what appeared to be a recording.
"It could be anything. If we followed up every lead-" Ozzel interrupted.
"But, Sir, the Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of humans," Piett interrupted.
"You've found something?" Vader asked.
"Yes, my Lord," Piett said, pulling up a transmission that was brief and a picture that showed a generator. Vader felt a thrill shoot through him by the Force.
"That's it. The rebels are there," Vader said quickly.
"My Lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers-" Ozzel started to say in a feeble voice, reminding Vader why he despised the man and didn't mind interrupting him.
"That is the system. And I am sure Skywalker and his sister are with them. Set your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare your men," Vader ordered, leaving no room for argument. By the end of a day cycle he should have both Luke and Lena.
