Chapter 62 - Battle
"Oh, What are we going to do now?" C3-PO complains "This is a disaster, and it's all your fault."
"[Groans] C3-PO would you… shut your…hole!" R2-D2 beeps some polite words, telling the protocol droid to silence his vocal processors, and quit fussing. C3-PO, again finds himself thankful to the Maker for installing the profanity blocker in his friend. The way the Astromech beeps sometimes, makes '3PO almost wish he didn't understand Binary. It would have been very unsuitable for the youngling Masters to hear that.
C3-PO still remembers the time he reworked R2's profanity blocker to replace his swear words with happy ones as a prank. 'Oh glitter and rainbows! '3PO, I'm going to Tooka kittens playing deprogram you.' he'd said when he realized what happened. Aah, that was so worth it. It took Master Anakin three hours to reprogram his blocker back. Something about crossing the B-wires, a rookie mistake. Anyways, now the blocker just removes the words from his outbound beeps. It makes him pause from time to time, but '3PO fills the gaps with whatever he'd like when translating. It makes it fun.
"Whoever programmed you must have never had an etiquette lesson in their life," C3-PO chastises.
"You can ... Etiquette. I have more important things to do now. Like prep this T-65 X-wing starfighter for flight and combat, or Master Luke will be…"
"That's what I'm talking about. We were supposed to find the Masters, inform them how unwise an adventure was, and escort them back home. We were never supposed to be escaping an imperial compound, joining a rebellion, or assisting Master Luke to bomb the same imperial compound. We're going to be deactivated for sure."
The Astromech as good as rolled his eyes at him.
"Just be careful, will you? You've got to come back," C3-PO states.
"Have you ever known me to be reckless?" R2-D2 replies.
C3-PO held back the affirmative response that first came up. It was not worth it to get into that argument again. "You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?"
"Your life is already boring." R2 whistles his reply. "Don't worry about me, I'll be back after the mission with another story to tell."
C3-PO nods and leaves the Astromech to finish his pre-flight procedures. He then goes looking for the Masters. They had all, since arriving on Yavin IV, flown to Alderaan. The enemy battlestation is expected to arrive within the next thirty eight minutes, and everyone is preparing for the fight.
"What happens if you have T-Waves?" Master Anakin quizzed.
"I shut down the engines and wish for good luck," Master Luke answered with a smirk.
"No! See, I knew you weren't prepared for this." Anakin reacts in a perfectly reasonable way.
Luke laughed. "Relax! I shift the thrust engines down and move the S-foils into position four B, then ride the T-Waves out with minimal thrusts. I've got this."
"I know," Anakin whispered. Then he hugged his son.
"Are you ready? Your commanding officer is looking for you," Obi-Wan walks in and asks.
"Yes, Uncle Ben. I'm ready." Luke steps out of the hug and closer to Obi-Wan and the door.
"Wait." Obi-Wan stops Luke and begins to straighten his uniform. "Luke, the Force will be with you."
"Yes, Master," Luke responds. Then after Obi-Wan gives him a playful swipe to his head, he leaves.
"He'll be okay." Obi-Wan says determinedly.
"I know," Anakin answers grimly.
"Ahsoka said we can watch it all in the control room with the others."
"Oh good. I would like to analyze the probabilities for the mission in real time," C3-PO states.
"Come along now." Obi-Wan puts his hand on Anakin's back and leads him towards the control room. C3-PO Follows.
The control room, as Obi-Wan called it, isn't much more than a few hastily set up monitors in a larger conference room on the lower level of the Palace. Alderaan was never really a permanent base of the Rebel Alliance.
Ahsoka, Bail, Yoda and Leia sit quietly in front of the largest of said monitors. On it is displayed the planet Alderaan, and the wider system, including the planets Raisa, Delaya, Avirandel, and Avishan. The red dot that represents the Death Star moves ever closer to the system. A series of green dots appear. A din of indistinct chatter fills the war room.
"Stand-by alert. Death Star approaching. Estimated time to firing range, fifteen minutes." One of the men in uniform reads to the room.
C3-PO remembers it was discussed evacuating Alderaan. Though to evacuate, even a portion of a planet in the time they had wouldn't be possible. And people would be hurt in the panic it would likely cause. So the whole Palace likely waits on pins and needles for news of what is to happen here today.
On another table sits a communications device with lights to represent each ship they are sending out. Red Leader's light blinks on, and a voice plays on the speaker. "All wings report in."
Another light blinks on. "Red Ten standing by."
"Red Seven standing by."
"Red Three standing by."
"Red Six standing by."
"Red Nine standing by."
"Red Two standing by."
"Red Eleven standing by."
"Red five standing by."
That last voice is familiar to '3PO. He almost falls over himself announcing, "It's master Luke! Red Five."
"Lock S-foils in attack position," Red Leader orders.
On the large monitor a group of green dots moves in formation towards the large red dot representing the death star.
"We're passing through their magnetic field," Red Leader says. "Hold tight." Then he orders them, "Switch your deflectors on. Double Front!"
C3-PO glances over Anakin's shoulder as he views what one of the cameras on the X-fighters is picking up. The Death Star now appears to be a small moon growing rapidly in size as the Rebel fighters approach. Complex patterns on the metallic surface begin to become visible. A large dish antenna is built into the surface on one side.
"Look at the size of that thing," Red Two gawks.
"Cut the Chatter, Red Two." Red Leader scolds. "Accelerate to attack speed. This is it, boys!"
As the fighters move closer to the Death Star, several of those present gasp at its size. Half of the deadly space station is in shadow and this area sparkles with thousands of small lights running in thin lines and occasionally grouped in large clusters; somewhat like a city at night as seen from a weather satellite.
Suddenly another voice comes over the comms, "Red Leader, this is Gold Leader."
"I copy, Gold Leader." Red Leader replies.
"We're starting for the target shaft now," says Gold Leader.
"We're in position. I'm going to cut across the axis and try and draw their fire," Red Leader bravely states.
On the main panel two squads of the green lights approach the death star. C3-PO wonders if this is one of those situations organics hold their breath for.
Small lights indicating enemy fire begin to appear on the screen.
"Heavy fire, boss! Twenty-degrees," Red Two says.
"That's Wedge Antilles. He befriended Luke," Anakin whispers through gritted teeth.
"I see it. Stay low," Red Leader orders.
They all stand there helpless as they watch both Red Two, with Wedge Antilles, and Red five, with Luke approach the death star.
"This is Red Five; I'm going in!" Luke says. His father and sister gasp and clutch each other for support.
Lights streak on the monitor indicate Luke fired on something. The panel indicates an explosion dangerously close to his X-wing.
"Luke, pull up!" Red Three shouts.
"Pull up, pull up, pull up." Anakin beggs, even though Luke has no way of hearing him.
The panel indicates Luke's shuttle flies past the explosion.
"He's okay," Obi-Wan states. Jedi have their way of knowing things like this. Though C3-PO has the desire to state the exact chances he'd survive an encounter like that, he feels this is one of those circumstances his friend would beep at him to hold his vocal processors.
"Oh R2 be careful." '3PO follows the organic's example and makes the pointless statement that it's target can't hear.
"Are you all right?" Red Three asks.
"I got a little cooked, but I'm okay," Luke answers.
And C3-PO glances over to one of the computers, displaying numbers indicating Red Five's droid is still functional. His vocal processors sigh with relief.
"Luke, let me know when you're going in." Red Leader orders.
"Again!" '3PO will need a full oil bath and buffing when he gets home. This stress will overwork his processors for sure.
"I'm on my way in now…" Luke states as he begins to dive towards the death star.
"Watch yourself! There's a lot of fire coming from the right side of that deflection tower." Red Leader says.
"I'm on it." Luke replies.
The indicator panel says that Luke fired his laser cannons towards the death star. A protruding tower on the surface of the battlestation fires back at him, but it's a miss as Luke flies past it. If '3PO knows his skywalkers, Luke's enjoying every minute of his death defying stunts.
Suddenly smaller red dots appear on the screen. Everyone in the control room is buzzing with activity.
One of the men sitting in front of a computer pulls out a radio and says, "Squad leaders, we've picked up a new group of signals. Enemy fighters coming your way."
"My scope's negative. I don't see anything." Luke says.
"Keep up your visual scanning. With all this jamming, they'll be on top of you before your scope can pick them up," Red Leader advises.
They all stand there helpless as the TIE Fighters get closer and closer to the Rebel Squadrons.
"Use the Force, Luke," Obi-Wan whispers.
"Biggs! You've picked one up... watch it!" Red Leader warns as they get especially close to Red Three.
"I can't see it! Where is he?!" Red Three panics. "He's on me tight, I can't shake him... I can't shake him."
"Hang on, Biggs, I'm coming in." Luke reassures.
Luke fires his laser cannons and the Tie Fighter explodes.
"Got him!" Luke cheers.
"Pull in! Luke... pull in!" Biggs, in Red Three, urges.
"Watch your back, Luke!" Wedge, in Red Two, says. "Watch your back! Fighter's above you, coming in!"
Obi-Wan puts a supportive hand on Anakin's back.
The screen indicates a Tie Fighter shoots at Luke's X-Wing.
Red Leader calls on his team, "Red Six… Can you see Red Five?"
"There's a heavy fire zone on this side," Red Ten states. "Red Five, where are you?"
There is some static, Red Five's light blinks on. Then Luke's voice breaks through. "I can't shake him!"
"I'm on him, Luke!" shouts Wedge, and his ship begins to fly towards Luke. "Hold on!"
"Blast it! Wedge, where are you?" Luke shouts.
C3-PO shakes his head disappointedly. "I taught him better manners than that." Several in the room roll their eyes for some reason.
Wedge, along with Red Ten approach and fire at the Imperial Fighter.
"Thanks, Wedge," Luke says. Anakin smiles a bit in relief from where he has been listening.
"Good shooting, Wedge!" Biggs adds.
"Red Leader…" They are interrupted. "This is Gold Leader. We're starting our attack run."
"I copy, Gold Leader. Move into position," Red Leader says.
The TIE Fighters form an attack formation and follow Gold Squadron.
"The exhaust post is marked and locked in!" Gold Leader shares.
Gold Leader races down the enormous trench that leads to the exhaust port. Laser Bolts blast toward him in increasing numbers, occasionally exploding dangerously close to his ship. "Switch power to front deflector screens," he orders. "How many guns do you think, Gold Five?
"I'd say about twenty guns. Some on the surface, some on the towers." Gold Five answers.
C3-PO quickly plugs the information away into his statistical calculations. "The odds of mission success are one in fourty five..."
"Death Star will be in range in five minutes." One of the men announces to the room.
"Thousand," '3-PO finishes.
"Switching to targeting computer," Gold leader states. A screen lights up indicating its use.
"Computer's locked. Getting a signal," says Gold Two. "The guns... they've stopped!"
"Stabilize your read deflectors. Watch for enemy fighters," Gold Five tells everyone.
"They're coming in! Three marks at two ten." Gold Leader announces.
Indeed three TIE ships fly in formation down towards the squadron. Then, on the panel representing signals from each of the squadrons, one of the lights goes out. Gold Two is no more.
"I can't maneuver!" Gold Leader shouts in complete panic.
"Stay on target," Gold Five, the old veteran, tries to calm him.
"We're too close!" Gold Leader is still panicking.
"Stay on target!" Gold Five repeats.
"Loosen up!" Gold Leader shouts.
The lead TIE Fighter fires, and Gold Leader's light on the panel goes out.
"Gold Five to Red Leader… Lost Tiree, lost Dutch."
"I copy, Gold Five."
"They came from behind…," Gold Five tells them. Shortly after this, his indicator light on the panel, too, faded. The room became silent. A veteran of countless campaigns was dead.
"Red Group, this is Red Leader. Rendezvous at mark six point one."
"This is Red Two. Flying toward you," Wedge answers.
"Red Three, standing by," Biggs answers.
Dodonna moves over to the comm. "Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run."
"A good idea, sir. It increases the chances of success by nine point three percent," C3-PO tells them. No one looks grateful to hear this, however.
"Copy, Base One. Luke, take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal... to start your run," Red Leader orders.
There is no reply from Luke.
The X-wing fighters of Luke, Biggs, and Wedge fly in formation high above the Death Star's surface. Red Leader and the rest of his Squadron drop down towards the Death Star exhaust port.
"This is it!" Red Leader flies down the trench as armaments shoot at him.
"We should be able to see it by now," says Red Ten.
"Keep your eyes open for those fighters!" Red Leader orders.
"There's too much interference!" Red Ten says from where he's flying down the trench. "Red Five, can you see them from where you are?"
"No sign of any... wait!" Luke hesitates. "Coming in point three five."
"I see them," he replies.
According to the indicator panel, Red Leader has his targeting computer activated. "I'm in range. Target's coming up! Just hold them off for a few seconds."
Suddenly Red Twelve's light fades, as the enemy shoots him down. Red Ten seems to be flying defensively trying to avoid being shot down as well. "You'd better let her loose."
"Almost there!" Red Leader shouts.
"I can't hold them!" Red Ten Panics. Then he screams in anguish as the lead TIE fighter fires on his ship and he goes down.
"It's away!" Red Leader has Fired on the Trench. Everyone in the control room leans forward in anticipation.
"It's a hit!" Red Nine announces.
"Negative," Red Leader quickly denounces. "Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface."
"Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point…" Luke tries. "...oh-five; we'll cover for you."
"Stay there…" Red Leader turns him away. "...I just lost my starboard engine. Get set to make your attack run." One of the TIE Fighters then shoots Red Leader and he is killed.
Obi-Wan bows his head slightly and his lips move as if he's speaking, though no sound comes out. "His soul has joined the Force. Focus on the here and now."
The atmosphere in the room becomes tense. No one announces it, but according to the internal timer C3-PO had set earlier, there is less than one minute before the Death Star is within firing range.
"Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle," says Luke. Anakin clenches his teeth.
"Right with you, boss," Wedge tells him. Leia smiles a little bit.
"Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?" Biggs asks.
Ahsoka glances at Anakin and smiles. "Like father, like son." Anakin is the only one who doesn't look amused by her statement.
"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home," Luke responds.
"We'll stay back far enough to cover you." Biggs replies to Luke.
"My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?" Wedge asks.
Luke activates his targeting computer. "Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!"
"What about the tower?" Wedge asks.
"You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!" Luke tells him.
Anakin audibly gasps as laser fire hits Luke's and Wedge's X-Wings, but the lights coming from their ships and droids do not go out. They're still alive up there.
"I'm hit! I can't stay with you." Wedge announces.
"Get clear, Wedge." Luke tells him. "You can't do any more good back there!"
"Sorry!" Wedge apologizes, as he steers his cripled X-Wing away from the battle.
The three TIE Fighters stay with the two rebel X-Wings. Biggs urges him worriedly, "Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!
C3-PO can tell based on the feedback that R2 is sending the command here, he's trying to increase the power to Luke's X-Wing.
"Hurry up, Luke!" Biggs urges. Luke has his targeting computer still active and it is lining up the shot. "Wait!" Biggs shouts suddenly. Then the TIE fires and his ship's indicator light goes out.
Leia has tears in her eyes. "Biggs no," she cries. "Biggs grew up on Tatooine with my brother. The two of them were friends before either learned to talk."
"Hang on, Artoo!" C3-PO again makes the pointless statement.
Obi-Wan is again mouthing words. "Use the Force, Luke... Let go, Luke."
Suddenly everyone jumps as Luke deactivates his targeting computer. "His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" They ask him.
"Nothing. I'm all right," Luke calmly states.
Anakin pushes his way to the comm. "Luke, I know what you're trying. It's very risky! You reactivate your targeting computer right now! Do you hear me?" He orders.
Luke doesn't respond.
C3-PO pushes his way in and says "R2, stop blocking our transmissions. It's illogical!"
A faint binary beep can be heard over the line. "I trust my pilot," C3-PO translates for the room.
Suddenly the Lead fighter fires on Luke. His ship's light remains active, only the droid's feedback ends suddenly.
"No, R2! What happened?" C3-PO asks. No one can answer him yet.
"The Death Star has cleared the planet," they announce. "The Death Star has cleared the planet."
Meanwhile, the three TIE fighters zoom down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Luke, never breaking formation.
Suddenly another ship arrives, and no one knows what to make of it at first. It begins to fire on the TIE Fighters, shooting one down, then moving on to the next. Leia smiles, and Anakin relaxes a bit.
"It's Han Solo. He and Chewbacca have come to our aid," Leia announces.
"He's on a collision course!" one of them shouts. Indeed, one of the two imperial ships Han was flying straight towards veers into the other and it crashes into the Death Star. The lone remainder is undoubtedly damaged. It leaves and heads far past their sensors into deep space.
"You're all clear, kid." Han says.
"How does he have our frequency?" One of them asks.
Anakin shrugs.
"Now let's blow this thing and go home!" Han continues.
"Do we think Luke is getting his messages?" Dodonna asks.
"Yes, R2 only blocked our own signals from Luke's comm before he was taken out," Anakin explained.
Above Luke fires his Torpedoes. Everyone holds their breaths, as they watch the survivors fly towards Alderaan, with Han's former pirate ship.
A loud boom can be heard in the distance, shaking the very nervous room. One of them runs to a window and the exploding Death Star is creating streaks across the Alderaanian sky.
"Great shot, kid. That was one in a million," Han praises.
C3-PO almost corrects him on his probability estimate, but he figures it's close enough for an organic.
Hello,
Most of this chapter, like 90 percent of the dialogue and some descriptions came from the A New Hope transcript online. I do hope that I gave it a new spin with my POV change.
I did have to create some technology as to what they were aware of in the control room. It's probably more than in Canon, but I figure you'll forgive me for it.
And I decided C3-PO can read lips. I don't know if it's canon, but it should be! Obi-Wan's using his Master-Padawan training bond to "talk" to Luke here.
