Padme stood with Mon Mothma among several other rebel leaders, including General Madine and Admiral Ackbar. Han, Leia, and Chewie sat towards the front of the assembly hall to hear the briefing. They waited as the rebels assembled and mingled among each other. Many hadn't seen each other since the attack on Hoth, and there were several new faces in the crowd as well.
"Well, look at you!" Han exclaimed as Lando came up to him. Han stood to greet him. "A general, huh?"
"Oh, well, someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab," Lando answered with a chuckle.
"Well, don't look at me, pal. I just said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they were lookin' for somebody to lead this crazy attack," Han assured, grinning.
"I'm surprised they didn't ask you."
"Who says they didn't? But I ain't crazy. You're the respectable one, remember?" Han reminded before Mon Mothma called for silence. Leia watched Padme as she stepped next to the leader as a presentation appeared.
"The Emperor has made a critical error, and the time for our attack has come," Mon Mothma informed before another Death Star appeared on the hologram with a shield covering it. Padme stepped forward to address the room.
"The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoint the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star," she explained before a solemn moment passed.
"Many Bothans died to bring us this information," Mon Mothma grieved before turning to the leadership. "Admiral Ackbar, please."
"You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby moon. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor," the admiral explained as a murmur fell around the rebels. "General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack."
"Good luck," Han mentioned as the crowd turned to him. Padme hid a smile as he looked around. "You're gonna need it."
"General Madine," Ackbar called before the general came forward.
"We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator," Madine informed as Leia leaned into Han.
"I wonder who they found to pull that off," Leia chuckled with a slight smile.
"General Solo, is your strike team assembled?" Madine asked. Leia stared at him with a mix of shock and pride. Han leaned forward.
"My team's ready, but I don't have a command crew for the shuttle," Han informed before Chewie bellowed his involvement. "It's gonna be rough, pal, I didn't want to speak for you."
"General, count me in," Leia smiled.
"I'm with you, too!" Luke answered as he walked into the hall. Leia stood and ran to him, embracing him. Padme took the moment to inform Han that she would be there, as well. She couldn't stay behind when they were so close to the finish line. This was a chance to get rid of the Emperor once and for all.
Leia pulled back from her embrace with her brother and saw a certain sadness and remorse in his eyes. She tilted her head, concerned.
"What is it?" Leia wondered. Luke gave a half smile as he held her upper arms.
"Ask me again later," Luke promised before Leia nodded.
"Luke!" Han shouted, walking up to Luke.
"Hi, Han, Chewie," Luke greeted before Han embraced his friend. Padme joined in as well before informing them that it was time to get going. When Padme came with them to the Imperial shuttle, Luke stared at his mother.
"I'm coming," Padme informed as she put on the green poncho the rest of the group had. "I have stood by long enough."
"Are you sure, though? If the Emperor is there, Vader will be there as well," Luke warned as his mother turned to him.
"All the more reason for me to go. He's after you, Luke. I will not stand by and watch him take you. Not after all this time," Padme informed firmly. Luke nodded but still was uneasy. "Leia's onboard with me going."
"Like any of us could stop you," Leia reminded before she boarded. Padme sighed, but Luke agreed.
"Let's just make sure that we get that blasted Emperor," Padme replied. "The sooner we get him, the sooner this will be over."
"What will we do then?" Luke wondered. Padme paused before looking down. She hadn't thought about that in a while. They were so concerned about rebelling that she forgot about what would happen afterwards. She had no home anymore and neither did her children. But she put on a brave face and turned back to her son.
"We'll survive. We'll find a new place to call home, free from the Empire. We'll be free," Padme replied. "Come on, let's get going before Han leaves without us."
Han walked up to Lando as he prepared the Falcon. Since he was taking the Imperial shuttle, he figured that his old friend could take care of it best.
"Look, I want you to take her," Han explained after a small debate. Land started to shake his head with a smile. "I mean it. Take her. You need all the help you can get, and she's the fastest ship in the fleet."
"Alright, old buddy," Lando laughed, raising his hands up. "You know, I know what she means to you. I'll take good care of her. She won't get a scratch."
"Right," Han agreed, glancing at his ship. His home. "I got your promise now. Not a scratch."
"Would you get going, you pirate," Lando smiled as Han nodded, heading back to the shuttle. "Good luck."
"You, too," Han replied as he climbed up the ramp.
Han climbed into the pilot's seat as Chewie started the engines. Luke went through the control panel, learning about the Imperial ship. Leia sat behind Han as he stared out the window. Chewie growled a complaint.
"No, I don't think the Empire had Wookies in mind when they designed her, Chewie," Han informed as Padme took her seat by her son. Chewie continued preparing the ship for takeoff as Han was lost in his mind.
"Hey, are you awake?" Leia asked with a little humor.
"Yeah, I just got a funny feeling," Han answered with a sigh, staring at the Falcon across the hangar. "Like I'm not going to see her again."
"Come on, General, let's move," Leia whispered before sitting back in her seat. Chewie stared at the Falcon for a moment as well before Han nodded.
"Right. Chewie let's see what this piece of junk can do. Ready, everybody?" Han asked.
"All set," Luke answered as Han and Chewie started to pull away.
"Alright, hang on," Han warned as they flew out of the hangar and away from the rebel fleet.
~~F~~
Vader entered the Emperor's new throne room that overlooked the forest moon of Endor. The leader sat in his chair with the members of the Imperial council surrounding him. As he approached, the Emperor turned his chair towards him while Vader bowed his head.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" Vader asked. The Emperor stood and walked toward him.
"Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for," the leader informed, surprising Vader.
"What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?"
"It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed, and the young Jedi will be one of us. Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders," the Emperor instructed. Vader clenched his jaw but bowed his head. Panic gripped his heart at the mention of his son. Luke would undoubtedly be among the rebels.
"Yes, my master," Vader answered before exiting the room. He walked toward the hangar bay where his shuttle awaited, at least giving the illusion that he was preparing to leave. If his son was indeed coming and the Emperor prepared to crush the Rebellion, then he would be there to see it.
When he reached the command ship, he went straight to the bridge and waited until a shuttle came out of hyperspace. Vader watched carefully, feeling something strange coming from the shuttle. The Force was unusually strong with the crew, and he knew what that meant.
~~F~~
The stolen Imperial shuttle grew closer to the incomplete Death Star with several ships surrounding it. Padme wondered if their plan would work after all. She knew that there would be a large Imperial presence, but seeing it was different than hearing about it. Tension filled the ship as they drew closer.
"If they don't go for this, we're gonna have to get outta here pretty quick, Chewie," Han warned as Chewie growled in agreement.
"We have you on our screen now, please identify," the controller informed through the intercom. Han glanced at Chewie before replying.
"Transmission commencing," Han informed before turning off the commlink.
"Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid," Leia sighed before Han turned toward her.
"It'll work," he promised before seeing Padme's and Luke's concern. "It'll work."
"Vader's on that ship," Luke whispered after a moment. Padme closed her eyes, knowing that would have been the case. They could see a star destroyer near the Death Star.
"Now don't get jittery, Luke. There are a lot of command ships," Han reassured. Padme glanced at her son who stared at the ship. Leia turned to her mother before Padme rubbed her shoulder. Han turned to his copilot. "Keep your distance though, Chewie, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance."
"I'm endangering the mission," Luke whispered as the Force signature grew stronger. "I shouldn't have come."
"It's your imagination, kid. Let's keep a little optimism here," Han urged. Chewie barked his concern, but they kept on course.
~~F~~
"Where is that shuttle going?" Vader asked as he stood over an officer and his monitor with Admiral Piett.
"Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?" Piett asked into the commlink.
"Parts and technical crew for the forest moon," the pilot answered. Piett turned to Vader as the Sith thought it over for a moment. The Force never lied, and he recognized the voice of the smuggler. However, he said nothing of the familiarity.
"Do they have a code clearance?" Vader wondered before Piett nodded.
"It's an older code, sit, but it checks out. I was about to clear them," the admiral replied. Vader stared at the console before turning to the window. It was a small shuttle, but it was obvious that it was filled with rebels. This might play into his fortune after all. "Shall I hold them?"
"No, leave them to me. I will deal with them myself," Vader informed. Piett nodded, a little surprised by the answer.
"As you wish, my lord," Piett replied before Vader watched the shuttle. Piett turned to the officer and nodded. "Carry on."
~~F~~
"They're not going for it, Chewie," Han mentioned, growing impatient. Luke stared at the star destroyer, waiting for an attack that never came.
"Shuttle Tydirium," the commlink came alive again as the crew waited on bated breath. "Deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course."
"Okay!" Han replied after cutting communication. "I told you it was gonna work. No problem!"
"No problem indeed," Padme smiled, glancing out the window. She knew that her son was correct in his senses, just as his father was. Vader was close by, and she had a feeling that he had something to do with the ease of their infiltration.