Disclaimer
All characters appearing in Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Voyager are copyright Paramount Pictures. All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga are copyright Lucas Arts and the Walt Disney Cooperation. No infringement of these copyrights is intended and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Star Trek/Star Wars – Galaxy at War: Part Sixty-Seven A New Hope Part Seven
by
Celgress
Star Wars Galaxy – September 0 ABY (2396 C.E)
Yavin IV Moon Outer Rim, morning
Ahsoka's hunch proved correct. The Rebellion maintained a secret base in the Yavin System. One lengthy explanation later the passengers and crew of the Millennium Falcon were in an auditorium listening to General Jan Dodonna of the Rebel Alliance High Command outlined the plan of attack against the Death Star. Using a holographic projector loaded with technical data from the plans Leia had carefully safeguard he spoke. Despite her injuries, Ahsoka stood among Dodonna and the other Rebel leaders. Seeing a real Jedi Knight did much to bolster the flagging morale of the Rebels when their long-range sensors showed the Death Star had entered the Yavin System. Riker and Troi were not present because they convalescing due to their injuries.
"The Battle Station is heavily shielded. It carries a firepower greater than half of the Imperial Navy. Its defenses are designed around repelling a direct large-scale assault. A small one-person fighter should, in theory, be able to penetrate the outer defense."
"Pardon me from asking sir but what good are snub fighters going to be against that beast?" One of the Rebel pilots a human male Rodian.
"The Empire doesn't consider a small one-person fighter to be any threat or they would have employed a tighter point defense system," Dodonna explained. The image change as it zoomed in to an area on the surface of the Death Star. "An analysis of the plans provided by our new friends has demonstrated a weakness in the battle station, a design flaw. The approach will not be easy. You're required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide, it is a small thermal exhaust port located just below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precisely placed hit will initiate a chain-reaction which should destroy the station. Only a precise hit will initiate a chain-reaction. The shaft is ray-shielded so you'll need to use Proton Torpedoes." Everyone was in disbelief at the impossibly small target area.
"That's an impossible shot, even for a computer." Declared Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles a male human who was seated between Luke and Sabine.
"It's not impossible. Sabine and I use to bulls-eye micro asteroids smaller than that exhaust vent using our family shuttles back home, doing so was a game for us." Luke said. "Isn't that right, Sabine?"
"Yeah, we did," Sabine said never taking her eyes off the presentation.
"If you insist. I still say it's not possible." Wedge said. Luke could tell Wedge did not believe his claim. Sabine's lackluster endorsement of his story was not aiding its credibility.
"Count me in. I'll fly one of your fighters." Sabine said.
"Me too," Luke said.
"So will I." Leia who was seated nearby said.
"You guys have a suicide wish or something?" Another Rebel pilot a human male Biggs Darklighter who was seated next to Leia asked.
"Vader is there," Sabine said by way of reply. Luke and Leia looked uncomfortable at the mention of Obi-wan's killer by his daughter.
"Darth Vader?" Biggs said.
"The same," Sabine said. "I owe him payback."
"So does most of this galaxy," Biggs said.
"May the Force be with you," Dodonna said not that our young heroes heard most of his words directly proceeding this.
Staging Area, a short while later
"This R2 unit of yours is pretty beat up, kid. Do you want a new one?" A male human technician asked Luke as R2-D2 was loaded into the X-Wing Fighter.
"Not on your life. That little droid and my folks have been through a lot together. He's a member of our family." Luke said climbing a ladder to get into the cockpit. Luke, Leia, Sabine, and Sakal were clad in orange and white pressurized flight suits. Ishka for her part stayed behind feeling her skills were better suit in the medical wing. There would likely be casualties from this operation, many casualties. "You okay R2, buddy?" R2-D2 beeped affirmatively. "Good," Luke smiled getting into the cockpit. He and the others spent the last couple of hours being given a crash course in X-Wings. Luke thought it sad the Rebellion had so few dedicated pilots that they needed all the volunteers they could get.
"Gold Squadron being takeoff procedure." A voice announced over the intercom system.
"Hang on tight R2. You and the others have to come back. You would not want my life to get boring or safe, now would you?" 3-CP0 said. R2-D2 beeped that he would do his best putting his companion's circuits ever so slightly at ease.
"Well, this is goodbye folks," Han said.
"I can't believe you're not going to help these people," Leia said getting into her X-Wing.
"I don't believe in suicide missions. Lost causes are not my thing, Jedi Princess." Han said. Next to Han, Chewbacca seemed less than thrilled by his partner's decision.
"You're a coward, Captain Solo," Sakal said from his X-Wing cockpit. Chewbacca agreed with Sakal's assessment much to Hans chagrin, not that the others were aware of such so not knowing Wookiee.
"But I'll be a live coward whereas you'll be a dead hero, Sakal." Han pointed out. "What good is my new replicator if I can't enjoy the profits from it?"
"Everything is money with you, huh? How very sad," Leia said.
"All of us can't as perfect as you are, Jedi Princess," Han said with a mock bow.
"Good luck, Captain Solo. Enjoy your money." Leia said sealing her cockpit.
"Good riddance, who needs them, am I right?" Han said to Chewbacca who growled in return. "What, let's go. I still need to pay Jabba somehow or I'm space dust."
Near the Death Star in orbit around Yavin IV, a short time later
One team of X-Wings after another tried the run and each failed to hit the target. Finally, it was Red Squadron's turn. By this time the Imperials became aware of their presence and had dispatched squadrons of TIE-Fighters lead by none other than Darth Vader in his specialized TIE.
Vader's TIE was giving Red Squadron a bad time as they made their way down the trench. When they nearly reached the end only our four heroes' X-Wings remained. Luke went to make the shot leaving himself open to attack. Vader got a lock on Luke's TIE. Vader was about to destroy the brave young Jedi.
"The Force is strong with this one, but it is stronger with me." Vader proclaimed. "I have you now." Four TIEs around Vader's were destroyed by fire but from where? The Millennium Falcon swept down. It fired a second volley which Vader's TIE could not evade. "What!" Vader exclaimed as his TIE spun out of control off into space.
"Yahoo," Han declared over the Rebel's open com channel. "You're all clean now blow this place and let's get out of here!" Leia could not help but smile when she heard Han's voice. Maybe he was a decent guy after all?
"Trust the Force, Luke." An oddly familiar voice whispered. 'Obi-wan?' Luke wondered. He did not have time to dwell on the matter. There was a job that needed doing.
Luke deactivated his targeting computer. He took the shot manually while people were screaming in his ears asking what he was doing. Only his sister Leia understood. She, Sabine and Sakal provided cover fire from the remaining TIEs.
Luke's expertly placed proton torpedo did the trick. It rocketed down the shaft. The X-Wings and Falcon pulled away hard. A handful of seconds later the Death Star exploded in spectacular fashion ending its thereat forever.
Imperial Center the Core three days later, evening
"He said you can't do that. So, I threw the Senate at him the entire Senate, true story." Emperor Palpatine said lounging on his throw. Seated around him on comfortable temporary chairs were his close longtime confidants Sate Pestage and Mas Amedda.
"Hilarious, my Emperor," Mas Amedda said smiling broadly.
Not to be outdone Sate Pestage faked laughter before he said. "Your political genius is equaled only by your comedic aptitude, my Emperor."
Palpatine noticed the sideways glances of contempt exchanged between his sycophants 'Good, good, let them despise each other it limits the possibility, however remote, they might turn against me someday.' He thought.
"My Emperor, I sincerely apologize for this unannounced interruption. But you have an incoming priority call from Lord Vader." A terrified looking female officer said bringing in a communication unit.
The Emperor took the device and promptly dismissed the unlucky officer after he shot a glare at her. While he was in no way displeased he knew it was best to keep his underlings on their toes. "Greetings Lord Vader, what do you have to report?" He said to a small flickering blue hologram of the seated Vader.
"There has been an unforeseeable complication concerning our operation in the Yavin System, my master," Vader said.
"What type of 'unforeseeable complication'?" The Emperor said his eyes narrowing. He sensed something was drastically wrong.
"The Rebels somehow destroyed the Death Star. Grand Moff Tarkin and most of our Military Chiefs of Staff are dead, along with the entire crew." Vader said after a prolonged silence.
"If the Death Star has been lost with all hands, where are you calling from?" The Emperor asked following an even more prolonged silence on his end.
"I'm in my modified TIE Fighter. It took me this long to get a subspace signal." Vader said although it was clear to everyone present he would have rather not.
The entire room grew deathly cold. Sate Pestage and Mas Amedda felt electricity prickle their skin. A whirlwind blew the robes of the Red Royal Guard who stood on either side of the throne.
Exercising every ounce of self-control he possessed the Emperor somehow tamped down his building rage before he lost control. "Lord Vader, return to Imperial Center at once. I'll transmit your coordinates to the nearest Imperial vessel for a pickup. We will discuss this matter more fully face to face. Be advised, I expect a full accounting." The Emporer said. He then deactivated the comlink after he transmitted the coordinates not allowing Vader another word. First, Starkiller failed to kill that traitor Maul or apprehend the mysterious Jedi and now this latest outrage!
"My Emperor-," Mas Amedda began.
"Leave me, both of you." The Emperor hissed at them.
Amedda and Pestage scrambled out of the room as fast as their aged feet would take them. The Emperor jumped up from his throne. His Royal Guards watched in silence while be tore his throne from its moorings. He then hurdled his throne through the allegedly unbreakable window behind its former position. His throne was ripped asunder into atoms via the Force before it ever hit the street far below.
Yavin IV three days later, afternoon
"What do you mean you aren't coming back?" Riker asked. He, Troi and the Lars (who applied for political refugee status with the Starfleet captain) had managed to arrange passage on Rebel ship back to the Barzan Wormhole. They hoped they would be able to evade the Imperial blockade now the Empire was in disarray following the destruction of the Death Star and the lose of so many of its high-ranking military officials.
"These people need our help. We can't leave." Ahsoka explained.
"What should we tell your parents?" Troi asked the young people.
"My father and step-mother will understand. Both of them fought for freedom in their day." Sakal said.
"That's true," Riker said thinking of Damar and Kira.
"Same goes for my parents, especially my mother," Ishka said. "Besides, they could use a good medic here or several."
"Pel would be proud, as would Quark," Troi said with a smile.
"Tell my mom about dad. I need to stay here until he is avenged. While she might not approve she'll know why." Sabine said.
"Your father was a great Jedi. He was committed to peace." Riker reminded Sabine.
"But I'm also a Mandalorian. Family and honor is everything to us. I never fully understood why until now. Vader and the Empire inflicted a wound on my family. I need to mend that wound by helping this galaxy heal." Sabine said.
"We understand," Troi said.
"If a Jedi or civil servant doesn't stand for what is right when it is difficult than a person shouldn't be either. I've always believed this. Now I need to practice what I preach." Leia said.
"I feel this galaxy is where I belong. I have to help these people." Luke said.
Luke also knew he had to help Sabine. His best friend needed him now more than ever. He had not yet told her about the voice he thought he'd heard because he was unsure how she would react.
"I'm not sure what will happen if or when we return to the Milkyway. On the one hand, the Galactic Empire committed an act of war against the Federation and by extension the entire Alliance when they seized a Starfleet vessel. On the other hand, I doubt people back home will want to get entangled in what many will no doubt see as a foreign conflict or an internal matter. We'll do our best to plead your case along with that of the wider Rebellion." Riker said.
"May the Force be with you, all of you," Troi said followed by Riker. The pair then hugged or shook hands with each of their friends.
"Goodbye, I wish I could say it has been fun." Owen Lars said grumpily.
"Never mind him. It was a pleasure meeting you." Beru Lars said giving her niece and nephew each a hug followed by shaking hands with the others. "Sorry about your father, dear. He was a very nice man." She said to Sabine.
"Thanks, he was," Sabine said.
"I wish I was going with you but I cannot leave R2 here alone. He would be lost without me you understand." C-3PO said to which R2 beeped in protest. "I am not a self-aggrandizing liar." Everyone could not help but chuckle at their usual antics even Sabine.
"3-PO, never change," Riker said patting the droid's back.
A short but sweet chapter.
Up Next – I cover the (roughly) four - five year gap between the events of "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back". Expect a blend of Canon, Legends/Beta material, and some original content. Original content I have planned for this period will include the Star Wars Galaxy Borg/Chiss War and the "Exalted One" of the Milkyway Galaxy, among other storylines.
To Be Continued
Author's Note - Star Wars Dating System. ABY which stood for "About the Battle of Yavin" will now become ABY "After the Battle of Yavin". To limit confusion this change will happen in January of 2397 C.E. (Federation calendar).
