Disclaimer: George Lucas owns it all.
I have lots of fun. I own nothing of it.
Background:
Death Star I is falling behind. Moff Tarkin in this story is very afraid of Darth Vader. The emperor sent the dark lord to make sure the battle station is completed. General Motti suggests Vader a way to enlist more man to their fleet.
THE DRAFT
The ranks of the imperial fleet was getting depleted…
By the alliance attacks
And
By Darth Vader's mood changes….
The First Death star construction was falling behind. The emperor was growing impatient.
"Lord Vader, you must contact Moff Tarkin immediately, the Death Star must be operational, we are starting to lose ground for the rebellion and this is not acceptable for the legacy of the Sith."
"Yes my master. It will be done."
On board of the incomplete Death Star I…
Moff Tarkin was nervous. He got the word of Lord Vader's coming.
When Darth Vader arrived he felt fear on the air. He enjoyed the sense of dread of the crewman. From time to time he would taunt an ensign just for the heck of it. It was empowering…
Vader walked the ramp. The crew was immovable, not to Vader's hightened senses…oh! That Fear/Some day he would spread it throughout the whole galaxy/
"Lord Vader, we are honored by your presence." Moff Tarkin said.
"You may dispense the pleasantries, I came here to put you on schedule!"
"Perhaps you may tell the emperor yourself."
"The emperor?" Tarkin was slightly shaking. "Is he coming here?"
"If you don't get back, he will."
"We may double our efforts!" Tarkin said.
"For your own sake, the emperor is not as forgiving as I am."
Vader said and walked away.
Moff Tarkin sat with the other commanders.
"What are we going to do?" Tarkin was desperate.
"I think I may have a solution," General Motti interjected.
"By all means, tell me."
"We could enlist young man from the draft list."
"But we already do that, general Motti!"
"Then make a motion to change the age for drafting to seventeen."
"What good would that do?"
"You don't have to wait one more year to get new recruiters, and besides we can make this an ordinance immediately. Since the emperor has dissolved the Senate he will sign the decree."
"It could help. I'll talk to Lord Vader." Moff Tarkin replied with a sense of dread.
TATOOINE….
Luke Skywalker had just won a race bet on his uncle's bike speeder.
"One hundred credits! Biggs! Let's get some power converters!"
"Sure Luke, let's go."
Biggs was almost eighteen, Luke was sixteen and his birthday was coming up.
"What are you going to do for your birthday, Luke?"
"I don't know. Uncle Owen keeps telling me to do this and that, I guess I won't have time to celebrate."
"No way, you have to celebrate."
"I guess I am going to visit old Ben. I like him."
"The crazy hermit?" Biggs asks.
"He is not crazy, I go to his place sometimes. Did you know that he was a Jedi Knight?"
"Serious! Luke are you crazy! Jedi's are enemies of the empire! Don't talk that around. You can get in trouble."
They arrived to their speeders.
"Hey Biggs. See you there!"
Luke flew as fast as he could towards the Toschi Station.
At the farm….
"Where is Luke, Beru?"
"He might be with his friend, Owen. Let him play a little. He works hard."
"I don't like him out there. I don't want him to get in any kind of trouble."
"He is a good kid…"
A noise of footsteps startles Beru.
"Someone's here" she said.
"Wait here." Owen walked towards the front door, holding his blaster.
"Owen, Beru!" Obi Wan was calling.
"How dare you show up in my house, old man! Get out!"
"Owen, you must listen." Obi Wan pleaded, he knew he could not use the force persuasion to influence Owen Lars. He was a simple farmer but not weak minded.
"Owen!" Beru admonished. "He must have a good reason to come here."
"What is it! Luke is not here."
Obi Wan already knew that. He could not feel the force signature around.
"Do you know where he is?"
"No, if you have something to tell, just spill it out!" Owen continued being rude, Beru frowns.
"Owen, please."
"Owen, we don't have much time. You must send Luke away."
"Away? Are you crazy, old man, what is going on?"
"The Empire has set a new decree. All young man age seventeen must sign for the draft. Luke will be seventeen next month. If he signs up you know what can happen!"
Beru was worried. "Do you think he would harm him?"
Owen pondered.
"What can I do? If he doesn't sign up they will look for him, won't they?"
"There is a system I can take him and he will be protected."
"Where?" Owen asked.
"Dagobah. I want to take him to the Dagobah system."
"All right, old man. I am doing this for Luke. I don't want that…that… you know."
"I can't believe that he would harm him. He is his father!"
"Beru, listen to you! You know what he is! I am more a father to Luke that him!" he turns to Obi Wan. "It is settled old man, Luke will go away, now you can too!"
Obi Wan walked calmly. "Thank you, Owen."
"I am sorry, Mr. Kenobi." Beru said.
Obi Wan left in a hurry. He had to find transport and soon...
At the Toschi Station….
Luke spent eighty credits on games.
"I am starving, Biggs. Are you in for a bantha burger and some juri juice?"
"Sure, why not."
They were walking to get the food and they saw a great number of storm troppers and imperials arriving.
"What do you think is going on? The empire never bothered us here." Biggs said.
"Let's check out!" Luke was curious.
The public holonet was lit.
"Attention! Attention!
Citizens of the outer rim…
This is an announcement….
Attention! Attention!
This message will be broadcasted in all businesses
and dwellings.
This is a Draft call.
All citizens who are of the age of seventeen must sign for
The imperial draft. It is a new ordinance…
Repeating. All male citizens of the age of seventeen must
Sign up…"
"Cool!" Luke was excited. "That's great! I'll get out of this dust ball!"
"I am three month for my eighteen birthday. I have to sign up anyways."
"Let's ask them where we can sign up!" Luke was walking towards the imperial guard.
They approached one of the imperial guards.
"Excuse me, sir. Where can I sign up?" Luke asked.
"There is a drafting station at Mos Eisley. You can sign up now."
"Wow! Come on Biggs, let's go!"
Luke wasn't hungry anymore. There would be other bantha burgers. He was very excited to get to the academy and become a pilot.
"I meet you at Mos Eisley, Biggs." Luke said and sped off.
