Sith Redemption
Star Wars VI The Dark Prophet
Luke Skywalker: Matt Damon
Lando Calrissian: Denzel Washington
An Imperial Star Destroyer accelerated toward the second Death Star. The Death Star was roughly two thirds complete with the southern hemisphere needing the most repairs. The super laser bowl was in the northern hemisphere. The second Death Star was smaller than the first, 900 kilometers in diameters but lacked the weaknesses of the first. Its firing range and frequency were also more advanced.
An Imperial Shuttle and Two Tie fighter escorts exited the Devastator and proceeded toward the Death Star's hanger bay.
"Command station,
this is ST 321. Code Clearance Blue. We're starting our
approach.
Deactivate the security shield," the shuttle captain
requested.
"The security
deflector shield will be deactivated when we have confirmation of
your
code transmission. Stand by... You are clear to proceed,"
the security officer said after verifying the shuttle's code.
"We're starting our approach," the shuttle captain replied. The Shuttle entered the hanger bay landing among the Imperial troops standing by. "Alert the commander that Prophet Kadann's apprentice has arrived," an officer ordered.
A security guard nodded and sent the transmission to the commander. Commander Jerjerrod confidently approached the shuttle between the lines of troops. The shuttle opened revealing a black cloaked figure. Luke Skywalker walked out of the shuttle and stepped onto the hanger bay surface. His light saber attached to his belt, his right hand gloved.
"Luke Skywalker!" Jerjerrod considered seeing him.
"That is correct commander," Luke said walking toward the exit of the hanger bay.
"This is unexpected, everyone thinks your dead," Jerjerrod said.
"Well, as you can see I am not. My master is displeased with your lack of performance," Luke said.
"I assure we are working as fast as possible, the damage was extensive," Jerjerrod excused.
"My master doesn't share your view of the situation," Luke said.
"He asks the impossible, I need more men," Jerjerrod complained.
"Perhaps you can tell him that when he arrives," Luke suggested coldly.
"Supreme Prophet Kadann is coming here?" Jerjerrod asked fearfully.
"Yes, and unless you want him to prophesize your death, I would work to make this station operational," Luke warned.
"We will double our efforts," Jerjerrod promised.
Luke looked at Jerjerrod smiling. "Good, you serve your master well," Luke complimented.
"I do what I can," Jerjerrod said.
"And you will be rewarded," Luke promised walking away. Jerjerrod sighed with relief. He walked away wondering how he would complete the super laser system on time.
On the Home One, a rebel cruiser among the rebel fleet.
All of the rebel officers assembled in a circular room large enough to fit them all. Admiral Ackbar, Mon Mothma, General Madine (a defected Imperial officer), Wedge, General Lando Calrissian, Commander Leia Skywlker, Chewbacca, and other rebel officials were present.
"A general now?" Leia said greeting Lando.
"Is it too unbelievable?" Lando asked smiling.
"Not at all," Leia said cheerfully.
Lando suddenly turned serious. "I've tracked down Han to Jabba's palace on Tatooine, but it's too well defended and we're spread to thin as it is," Lando said.
"I understand," Leia said sadly.
"The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come," Mon Mothma said quieting discussion. A holographic image of the Endor moon and the Death Star appeared. The Death Star is considerably smaller than the moon but is shown orbiting the moon like a satellite.
"The data brought to
us by the Bothan spies pinpoints 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
Supreme Prophet Kadann himself is personally overseeing
the final stages of the construction of this Death Star," Mon
Mothma informed the group.
"Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar, please," Mon allowed.
"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 forest Moon of Endor. 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," Admiral Ackbar briefed.
"General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack," Ackbar added.
"General Madine," Ackbar introduced.
"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 said.
"I will personally lead the attack, Commander Skywalker being my second in command," Madine continued.
Chewie barked to Leia as Madine read the list of names to be sent to the moon. "Add Chewbacca as well," Leia smiled.
"Of course," Madine said glad to have Chewbacca's support.
Lando and Leia parted ways in the hanger bay. "I have to go prepare the Falcon," Lando said.
"Be careful," Leia told him.
"I promised myself I would give it back to Han as soon as we brought him back," Lando smiled.
Leia went along with Chewie to the stolen Imperial Shuttle. "Is everyone on board?" Madine asked.
"Everyone is accounted for," Leia said.
The Imperial Shuttle departed the hanger bay and headed for Endor.
Supreme Prophet Kadann's personal shuttle suddenly materialized in the Death Star's hanger bay. "The lack of security," Kadann chuckled.
Luke and Jerjerrod approached the ship as the other prophets exited the ship. Luke kneeled before Kadann making them almost equal in height. Jerjerrod imitated Luke trying to stay on the prophet's good side.
"Rise my friend," Kadann smiled.
"The Death Star is operational as you requested," Luke told him.
"Good, the end of rebellion and your father is at hand," Kadann said.
"The destruction of the Executor may cause the Imperial fleet to turn against us master," Luke considered.
"Yes it would, you will confront Vader as he arrives," Kadann said.
"He will come to the station?" Luke asked.
"I have foreseen it," Kadann said.
The Imperial Fleet arrived at the Death Star's location as planned. Anakin considered his enormous fleet of forty Imperial Star Destroyers and several other support ships. With hundreds of Tie fighters at his command he felt confident the rebel fleet would finally meet its end at Endor.
"Get me Prophet Kadann on screen," Anakin ordered.
Supreme Prophet Kadann in his chair stared at Anakin. "Is the station operational?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, Lord Vader. I am transmitting a battle strategy we have worked on," Kadann said.
"Oh?" Anakin wondered. A holographic map of the Death Star, the moon, and the fleet appeared in front of Piett and Anakin.
"Send the fleet to the far side of Endor's moon giving the impression that the Death Star is defenseless," Kadann said. The fleet's image appeared behind the moon, the rebel fleet appeared in front of the Death Star.
"Believing the station to be not operational they will attack directly launching all their fighters away from the cruisers. Then your fleet will sling shot around the moon and trap them in between the station and the fleet. The rebels will have to choose between directly engaging your fleet or face the super laser systems of the Death Star," Kadann said.
"This plan will work," Piett considered analyzing the map. Anakin was uncertain. "If the shield generator were to ever be destroyed by the rebels the Death Star would be vulnerable to attack," Anakin said.
"True, the Executor should remain to deter the rebels from landing on the moon, in any case my best troops are guarding the shield generator," Kadann said.
"Excellent work, no doubt you have foreseen victory with this plan?" Anakin asked.
"I foresee your daughter's return and the end of the Alliance," Kadann said saying exactly what Anakin wanted to hear.
Kadann's face signed off. "Move the fleet," Anakin ordered. Immediately the Star Destroyer fleet began to move to the other side of the moon hidden from rebel senses. The Executor remained to keep the rebels from landing on the moon.
Kadann turned to Luke. "The Executor is within range, we could destroy it now," Luke said after Kadann had signed off.
"Patience, we need the Executor to destroy the rebel fleet. You will have your opportunity. I foresee that you will have the chance to slice his throat with your light saber," Kadann said.
Anakin went into his chambers to consider Kadann's plan. "Padme, speak to me," Anakin prayed in his deep meditation.
"My love, what troubles you so?" Padme asked him.
"Our son, I have killed him," Anakin began to weep.
"His death was a necessary loss, he is with me now. He now understands the truth," Padme told him.
"He said that he saw a vision of you, that you told him that Styke my apprentice had killed you," Anakin said.
"Luke was tricked by Obiwan's spirit to seek out Yoda, he turned him against you as he did with the other Jedi," Padme said sternly.
"Yoda lives?" Anakin considered the idea.
"You must kill him for me," Padme said with a hint of anger in her voice.
"It shall be done," Anakin said gaining confidence in himself. "I have failed to convince Leia to join me," Anakin told her.
"When she sees her precious fleet in ruins and her friends dead and dying she will return to you to grant them mercy," Padme predicted.
"She will come to me?" Anakin wondered.
"Her compassion for you and her friends will lead her right to you. Find her on Endor's moon," Padme said.
"She will join us or die," Anakin said as Padme's image faded.
The Imperial Shuttle exited hyperspace and approached the Death Star. General Madine flipped some switches as the shuttle approached the Executor. "If they don't go for this, we're gonna have to get outta here pretty quick," Madine observed as the shuttle approached the Executor's bridge.
"We have you on our screen now. Please identify," an Executor controller ordered.
"Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector shield," Madine continued.
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage," the controller requested.
"Transmission commencing," Madine said as the code was being transmitted.
"Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid," Leia said to Chewie's agreement.
Leia stared at the Executor as it came up. "My father is on that ship," Leia said.
"Are you sure?" Madine asked.
"I'm certain, I shouldn't have come on this mission," Leia told Madine.
"Too late now," Madine muttered.
"Where is that shuttle going?" Anakin asked Piett.
"To the surface my Lord," Piett reported.
"Does it have a clearance code?" Anakin asked.
"It's an older one but it checks out," Piett said.
Anakin closed his eyes sensing those on board. "Should I hold them?" Piett asked.
"No, leave them to me," Anakin said.
"As you wish my Lord," Piett said allowing the ship to pass.
"Clearance accepted," the controller informed Madine and Leia.
"It worked," Madine smiled. Leia looked troubled wondering why they had been allowed to pass.
Anakin watched as the shuttle entered the moon's atmosphere. He could have used the tractor beam to hold the ship into the hanger bay, but then there would be a fire fight in the hanger bay with a high probability that she would be killed. And Padme had said she would come to him voluntarily.
"Prepare my shuttle, I will be arriving on the surface," Anakin ordered Piett. An Imperial Shuttle left the Executor and headed toward the shield generator's landing bay.
Madine, Leia, Chewie, her two droids, and crew landed a distance away from the shield generator. Back at the Imperial base it was quickly discovered that AT-AT walkers would not work effectively in the dense forests. AT-ST walkers were used instead to patrol the shield generator. Anakin entered the Imperial base of the shield generator. He greeted the stunned troops in a cheerful manner.
"How has hunting gone?" Anakin smiled.
"Very well sir," a storm trooper officer said.
"Good," Anakin said leaving to his private quarters.
General Madine got all the troops together. "We will attack tomorrow morning catching the Imperials by surprise. We will send a small force led by Commander Skywalker into the shield generator. They should easily take out the Imperial guards and secure the generator. The rest of the force will occupy the AT-ST walkers. Once the charges have been set we will retreat into the forests," Madine said.
The crew nodded in understanding. "Assign your crew, be ready for anything, this will be dangerous," Madine warned.
The rebels found an abandoned Ewok village. "This looks steady enough," Madine considered.
"I wonder where the inhabitants went," Leia said.
"Most likely hunted by the Imperials," Madine answered. "Let's set up camp," Madine ordered.
Leia in the middle of night was still awake on an Ewok bridge. She could sense her father's presence. "Come to me," echoed in her mind.
Author's Note: After all the chapters are done, read back the whole script. I enjoyed writing this episode the most. Nothing but action in the next chapters. As for the Ewoks you can't be too harsh, the Ewoks became extinct after VI anyway, the Death Star's explosion hurled meteorites into the planet effectively killing off the cute little critters in Return of the Jedi. Just goes to show, you win some you lose some. I also love filling in the original trilogy's plot holes.