Chapter 7: Ride 'Em Taun-taun!
Dear Diary,
It's been about two years or so since I've last written in you. A lot has happened since I joined the Rebellion back on Yavin. It seems like it was so long ago but it really hasn't been. I was thoroughly questioned by the leaders of the Rebellion, including Princess Leia herself. After many days I convinced that my intentions were genuine, especially after they heard about the way the Empire, um, "convinced" me to join! It turns out that they needed a Quantum Cellular Microastronomist. Even though I never completed college I had pretty much finished the required classes for that degree. Also, I had a lot of inside information about how the Empire conducts their training classes and modes of command. So, pretty much I've been working in the lab and writing recommendations for potential bases, that kind of thing. I play a big part in keeping us one step ahead of the Empire and closer to reunifying the galaxy under one republic, like the old days.
Eventually the Empire came back and forced us from Yavin and we fled briefly to Thila to hide. However, the Rebellion needed something more permanent and we put together a team to discover a place that they wouldn't look for us. We came up with Hoth, which is a freezing cold ball of ice in a remote sector. The chances of the Empire finding us there was pretty slim. We sent out some construction crews and we've been here at Echo Base for a couple of days.
If I thought Tatooine was hot...then this place is the extreme opposite. Everything freezes here: food, water, your clothes, turds...it's disgusting. But, we're well protected. We're starting the process of setting out markers and exploring the planet. It's going to take a long time because most of the terrain is difficult to navigate on foot. We're using taun-tauns to get around (which wasn't my idea). They're native to Hoth and domesticated pretty easily, but they STINK. A lot. And make these "woggy woggy" sounds that, for some reason, just creep me out.
Hey Diary,
There is way too much work for the Rebellion's only Quantum Cellular Microastronomist to be doing. Mon Mothma promised that she'd try to find me an assistant soon, but no one in the Rebellion is qualified. I spend most of my time freezing in the tiny lab or freezing down at the makeshift corral learning to ride the taun-tauns. I'm not remotely interested in riding those disgusting things, but everyone is under orders to since we're all pitching in and helping wherever needed. Hoth is a bare-bones facility at best and there aren't a lot of luxuries here. What I wouldn't give for a hot tub and a cold beer about now! Forget that. I'd take a warm beer over a cold one. I don't remember the last time I was warm.
Despite all the work there's still time to relax. Most of the pilots in Rogue Squadron (man, those guys are CRAZY but in a good way) decided it would be fun to stage a taun-taun rodeo! I guess what they're really trying to do is bond with their mounts because taun-tauns can be extremely stubborn. I'm not a big fan myself, but even I'll admit that there's nothing funnier than to see a pilot get thrown off of his mount while trying to race it around a couple of old fuel drums painted in bright colors. The only one who hasn't gotten thrown is Luke Skywalker. He's a nice kid, about my age and we've had some pretty great conversations while freezing together in the Mess Hall.
Well, got to get back to the lab. I've got some more work to do. We're supposed to start searching for another planet to hide out on just in case the Empire discovers we're here. It never ends. But, that's the way life in the Alliance goes, I guess. I wouldn't have it any other way.