As the officials walked out of the board room Tarkin stayed behind with Motti. "Need a glass of water?" Tarkin asked smiling.
"I think I'll be fine," he gasped.
"I am quite aware that I now hold half the fire power of the entire fleet combined at my finger tips. Why, with your fleet and this station we could be a quite the team," Tarkin said.
"What do you mean?" Motti asked uncertain.
"After we destroy the rebel base and crush the alliance we can turn to Coruscant. Force the Emperor to give us control of the empire or destroy the planet," Tarkin said.
"When will the station be operational?" Motti asked interested.
"I am going to demonstrate it on a planet soon to see exactly what it can do," Tarkin said.
"If you finish off the rebels my ships will be standing by," Motti said.
Obiwan and Glen found themselves in a Mos Eiseley Cantina, a place to find smuggler captains. They both ordered drinks as they looked around. "He doesn't like you," a humanoid told Glen.
"I'm sorry," Glen said not certain how to take that.
"I don't like you," the humanoid grabbed him.
Before Glen could grab his light saber a large ape looking alien pushed him to the ground and pulled out a pistol. Obiwan ignited his light saber and sliced off the creature's arm. Obiwan looked around and deactivated the light saber.
Han eyed Obiwan as he swung the light saber. "A Jedi exile," he thought to himself. Chewbacca and Obiwan started talking as soon as they recognized each other. Glen getting to his feet followed Chewbacca to Han's table.
Chewie joined Han's table as Obiwan and Glen stood. "I'm Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon. My friend says you two need a ship," Han began.
"Yes and two droids," Obiwan added.
"Two droids? Well that shouldn't be a problem," Han smirked. As an Imperial captain he knew what was going on now.
"Let's just say we don't want any Imperial entanglements," Obiwan said as storm troopers began to come into the Cantina.
"Well that's the trick isn't it and it's going to cost you extra," Han said.
"How much?" Glen asked.
"Ten thousand all in advance," Han said.
"Ten thousand, we could get our own ship for that much," Glen protested.
"But who's going to fly it, you?" Han asked.
"I've flown before and been in more space battles than you ever been in," Glen said defensively.
"Oh, I doubt that," Han said. "My ship can outrun any Star Destroyer and on top of that, I have the Imperial codes to get by them. Otherwise you can't get past the blockade," Han told him.
"Blockade?" Glen asked.
"Yeah, a few days ago Imperial ships have been showing up all over the place. I think they're looking for something," Han speculated.
"We will give you two thousand in advance and then fifthteen thousand once we get to Alderaan," Obiwan said.
"Seventeen thousand? You have yourself a ship. Docking bay 94," Han directed.
When they were gone Han turned to Chewie. "Well that ain't bad for our luck," he said.
Chewie growled in agreement. "I leave my post a few times, okay maybe a dozen times and they send me to this place," Han said irritated at Imperial command. Han had a habit of leaving his captain's post and fighting whatever the empire wanted destroyed with his Falcon. He had won the Falcon by defeating Lando Calrissian in Sabacc. Lando had decided to play Han as a favor for defending him when he had won a mining station on Bespin from a previous game.
"But it seems we hit the jackpot. We'll go to Alderaan, find who else is in league with those two, and report them. The fleet comes to pick them up, I get my Star Destroyer back," Han said.
Chewie seemed to have reservations. "It's not being dishonest, they're exiles. Dangerous criminals and rebel sympathizers," Han justified.
Chewie considered and walked off to do his business. Han was about to leave when Greedo stopped him. "Going somewhere Solo?" Greedo asked. Han stayed in his seat.
"Actually I was going to be on my way, I have some passengers to transport," Han smirked.
"I doubt you will get very far with this blockade and with Jabba holding your ship," Greedo said.
"You'll have to buy back your ship as grievances for your past," Greedo explained.
"I think you are mistaking me for another captain, because I would never kill a hutt," Han said sarcastically.
"Jabba thinks differently, he may even spare your life if you hand over your ship to him," Greedo told him.
"Over my dead body," Han said seriously.
"That's the whole idea," Greedo replied.
"Isn't it," Han said firing. Greedo fell on his table burned from the close rang firing. Han got up and walked around Greedo's body. "For the mess," Han said generously giving the owner a coin.
On the Death Star Luke reported back to Tarkin. "Her resistance to the mind control is considerable. It will take some time before we can get any information out of her," Luke reported.
"The final check-out is complete. All systems are operational. What course shall we set?" an Imperial officer interrupted.
"Perhaps she would respond to an alternative form of persuasion," Tarkin considered.
"What do you mean?" Luke asked.
"Set a course for Alderaan, we can eliminate Bail Organa and any rebel sympathizers in one strike," Tarkin said.
"With pleasure," the Imperial officer said walking off.
Han and Chewbacca entered docking bay 94. Jabba was waiting for them. "Come out Solo," Jabba yelled. He was escorted by several bounty hunters, one of which was Boba Fett.
"Of all the captains why me?" Han asked annoyed.
"You are the captain responsible for destroying and boarding all those smuggler ships. You hurt my business," Jabba argued.
"Just following orders," Han said defensively.
"Bah! You killed more smugglers than any other captain," Jabba said. "And all so that you could run your own," Jabba said.
"You're just jealous of my success," Han said.
Glen and Obiwan walked into the hanger not realizing what was happening. "Who are they?" Jabba demanded uncertain.
"They're going with me to Alderaan, I'm getting off this rock," Han said.
Boba Fett tightened his grip on his rifle as Obiwan approached. "Give me 15 thousand credits and I will call off my bounty hunters," Jabba said.
"You have a deal, but only after I get back," Han said having no intention to do so.
"Let's go," Jabba said calling his bounty hunters.
"What was that about?" Glen asked.
"Some local trouble," Han said vaguely.
"This is a piece of junk," Glen said looking over the ship.
"She'll make point five beyond the speed of light. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts. I've added some special modifications myself," Han said proudly.
"We're a little rushed, so if you'll hurry aboard we'll get out of here," Han suggested.
Just as everyone is on board storm trooper rush into the docking bay shooting. "Bunch of trigger happy…" Han muttered as he set up the firing controls. Laser guns slide out of the Falcon's belly and start firing at the storm troopers.
The ship's engines ignites allowing it to ascend swiftly into the atmosphere and into space. Immediately after the Falcon hits space two Star Destroyers speed towards them. "Punch in the codes," Han instructs Chewie.
The Star Destroyers don't seem to buy the codes. "They switched them," he exclaimed.
"What's the plan now," Glen asked.
"We can still outrun them," Han said as the Star Destroyers started firing.
Pushing in the controls the Falcon goes in light speed leaving Tatooine behind.
The Death Star stops as it approaches Alderaan. Leia is lead to the viewing room, her hands are bound. Luke is behind her. "Governor Tarkin, so you're the one holding my brother's lease," Leia recognized.
"Yes, well it seems your brother has more sense than you," Tarkin replied.
"I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Empire now," Tarkin said confidently.
"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers," Leia warned.
"Not after we
demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined
the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed first. Since you are
reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have
chosen to test this station's destructive power...
on your
constituents of Alderaan," Tarkin told her.
"No, we are peaceful, we have no weapons," Leia protested.
"Then name a target, a military target," Tarkin insisted.
Leia turned away refusing to give in. "I grow tired of asking so this will be the last time, where is the rebel base?" Tarkin asked.
"It's on Datooine," Leia said looking down.
"You see Luke, she can be reasonable. You may continue with the operation, you may fire when ready," Tarkin ordered.
"What!" Leia exclaimed.
"You're far too trusting, Datooine is too remote for an effective demonstration but we will deal with your rebel friends soon enough," Tarkin smiled.
"No…" Leia protested weakly as Luke kept her back.
"You can't let him do this, it will kill countless," Leia pleaded with Luke.
Luke shook his head. Leia watched in horror as the station's lasers powered up.
Bail and his wife were at their mountain home enjoying their retirement days. "I heard that the emperor has abolished the Senate," his wife told him.
"It was destined to dissolve sooner or later; I did the best I could. Only the Alliance can bring back democracy now," Bail said.
"What is that?" his wife pointed.
Bail looked up at the sky; it seemed like a small moon. "That's strange," he said. There was a green flash and then no more.
The Death Star's lasers combined and streaked through space slicing into Alderaan. The planet exploded in a huge fireball. "Shields up, don't want the station damaged," Tarkin ordered.
The Death Star pulled away as what was left of Alderaan became a ghostly asteroid field. Luke shuddered slightly after the blast. Leia stared at the screen in shock. "Two billion people, how could you let them die," she cried. In vain she attacked Luke with her fist.
Luke feeling uncertain himself defended himself and then suddenly activated her head band. Leia fell to the floor exhausted. "Take her to her cell," Tarkin ordered. Storm troopers picked up Leia and lead her down the hall.
"Well, I think that went well, congratulations everyone," Tarkin said pleased.
Anakin felt a tremor in the Force with the loss of Alderaan. It wasn't long before he found out Alderaan had been completely destroyed. "My daughter was on her way to Alderaan," Anakin said disturbed by these events.
"For reasons unknown the planet has been destroyed," Sate reported. Anakin opened channels for Imperial or Jedi signals from the planet. None were reporting in. "Only the…" Anakin began.
"I want Tarkin's signal now," Anakin ordered.
"He's not answering our calls," Sate replied.
"I want my fleet," Anakin ordered.
Unbeknownst to Han he was going straight for the Death Star. Obiwan shuddered as the Force adapted to the death of billions. "Something terrible has happened," he said.
Han went out of light speed only to find asteroids hitting his ship. Quickly maneuvering around them Glen and Obiwan came up to the cockpit. "Where's Alderaan?" Glen asked.
"It's gone, blown away," Han said trying not to show surprise.
"By the empire," Obiwan said.
"Impossible, it would take half of the fleet firing at once and even then…" Han doubted.
"Send out a Tie fighter to survey the ruins, I want to see how clean a kill this was," Tarkin ordered.
The Tie fighter headed into the asteroid field. As it did it past by the Millennium Falcon. Finding the ship it returned back to the station to report the find.
"We better destroy it before it tells others," Glen said.
"A lone fighter couldn't have gone out this far on its own," Obiwan wondered.
Han chased after the fighter just as curious as what had happened. "It looks like it's headed towards that moon," Glen said pointing to the distance.
"That's no moon, that's a station," Obiwan said.
"It's too big to be a station," Han said.
Loosing the Tie fighter they went closer to the Death Star. "Maybe we should head back," Glen suggested.
"Yeah, that's not a bad idea. Chewie turn us around," Han ordered.
The ship failed to comply captured in the tractor beam of the Death Star. "I can't get free," Han said. All was not lost though, he could still hand over the two Jedi to the Imperials," Han thought.
The Falcon slid into one of the docking bays and landed on a platform. Storm troopers lined up ready to search it. Luke walked out wondering what had happened. "This one must have strayed trying to reach Alderaan," a storm trooper commander told Luke.
"Yes, well search it thoroughly. I sense something familiar," Luke muttered.