Arrival on Endor
Thanks to , Danielle1980 and AZNMAGICMAN for favouriting and following this story.
The stolen Imperial shuttle dropped out of lightspeed and entered the Endor system. Ahead loomed the forest moon of Endor, with the Death Star in it's orbit and the Executor patrolling nearby. "If they don't go for this, we're gonna have to get outta here pretty quick, Chewie." Han remarked to Chewbacca.
"We have you on our screen now. Please identify." an Imperial voice said over the radio
"Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector shield." Han answered
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage." the Imperial officer requested
"Transmission commencing'." Han acknowledged, and tipped the nod to Chewbacca, who transmitted the clearance code that had been stolen along with the shuttle.
"Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid." Leia said grimly
"It'll work." Han reassured her, "It'll work."
Luke meanwhile was looking intently at the Executor. "Vader's on that ship." he realised
"Now don't get jittery, Luke. There are a lotta command ships." Han told him, then turned to Chewbacca. "Keep your distance though, Chewie, but don't look like ya tryin' to keep your distance."
Chewbacca growled, asking how he was supposed to do that.
"I don't know. Fly casual." Han replied, exasperated.
~8~
Luke was right about Vader; the Sith Lord was on board the Executor. He strode across the bridge to where Admiral Firmus Piett was overseeing the officer communicating with the Tydirium. "Where is that shuttle going?" he questioned
Piett decided to get the answer to this question himself. "Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?" he asked into the radio
"Parts and technical crew for the forest moon." the shuttle pilot answered
Vader swore he'd heard that pilot's voice before but he couldn't quite place where. "Do they have a code clearance?" he asked Piett
"It's an older code, sir, but it checks out." the Admiral answered, "I was about to clear them."
Vader slowly turned to look out of the viewport at the Tydirium. He could sense a familiar Force presence nearby.
~8~
Luke could also sense a familiar Force presence. "I'm endangering the mission, I shouldn't have come." he murmured
"It's ya imagination, kid." Han retorted, "Come on, let's keep a little optimism here."
~8~
Vader continued to stare thoughtfully at the Tydirium. "Should I hold them?" Piett asked
"No. Leave them to me." Vader answered, "I will deal with them myself."
"As you wish, my Lord." Piett nodded, "Carry on." he told the communications officer.
~8~
"They're not goin' for it, Chewie." Han said grimly, getting concerned at the radio silence from the Executor.
Then, the officer's voice sounded over the radio again, "Shuttle Tydirium, deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course."
"Ok." Han acknowledged, and turned the radio off. "I told ya this was gonna work." he said fllipantly to his friends, "No problem."
Luke didn't reply and just continued to stare thoughtfully at the Executor as they passed the huge ship.
~8~
Vader watched the Tydirium intently until it had disappeared into Endor's atmosphere, then he turned on his heel and left the Executor's bridge, deep in thought.
~8~
The Tydirium had soon landed in a forest clearing just outside of the Imperial shield generating station's sensor range. The Rebels donned their woodland camouflage gear and began to make their way along a dirt path that threaded it's way through the towering trees of Endor. Han was leading the group when he presently held his hand up, indicating for the group to stop. "Oh, I told you it was dangerous here." Threepio moaned to no one in particular
Han, Chewbacca, Luke and Leia peered over of the top of a fallen tree trunk to see two Imperial Scout Troopers standing around in a nearby clearing. "Should we try and go around?" Leia suggested
"It'll take time." Luke shook his head
"This whole party'll be for nothing if they see us." Han said grimly, "Chewie and I will take care of this. You stay here." he told his friends.
"Quietly. There might be more of 'em out there." Luke warned
"Hey, it's me." Han smirked, and he and Chewbacca snuck off towards the clearing.
Luke and Leia exchanged amused looks then settled down to watch what was about to happen.
Having made it to the clearing, Han and Chewbacca hid behind a couple of trees and watched as the two Scouts seemed to finish what they were doing and began to walk towards their 74-Z speeder bikes. Han unholstered his trusty blaster pistol, tipped the nod to Chewbacca and began to creep after one of the Scouts. Suddenly, Han heard a snap from beneath his feet and looked down to see that he had stepped on a twig. Unfortunately, the Scout had heard it too and promptly swung round and backhanded Han, knocking the General flat on his back. "Go for help, go!" the Scout yelled to his comrade, who hurried back to his bike.
Luke and Leia had seen all of this. "Great. Come on!" Luke groaned, and he and Leia rushed off to help their friends.
Han recovered, grabbed the first Scout and threw him into a tree with all his strength. Meanwhile, the second Scout jumped onto his bike and tried to get away but Chewbacca promptly destroyed the bike with a well-aimed shot from his bowcaster, taking the Scout with it. Han meanwhile was engaged in a brawl with the first Scout. As Luke and Leia reached the clearing, Leia suddenly saw two more Scout Troopers sitting on bikes nearby. "Over there! Two more of them!" she hollered as the two Scouts promptly sped away.
"I see them. Wait, Leia!" Luke called as Leia ran towards the first Scout's bike. He jumped on behind her and they sped off in pursuit of the third and fourth Scouts.
"Hey, wait!" Han hollered, but it was too late; Luke and Leia had already sped away. The first Scout recovered and tried to go at Han again, but Han just threw him over his shoulder and knocking him out with a good stomp to the helmet.
~8~
The three speeder bikes raced through the dense foliage. "Quick, jam their comlinks. Centre switch." Luke ordered Leia, who complied. The two Rebels were soon closing the distance on the two Scouts. "Move closer." Luke ordered, "Get alongside that one."
Leia managed to get the bike alongside the third Scout's bike. The Scout promptly began to ram his bike into the side of the Rebels' bike, trying to either knock them off or force them to crash into a tree. The two bikes continued to trade paint until Luke performed a well-timed leap onto the Scout's bike and promptly threw the rider off, sending him crashing head-first into a tree and breaking his neck.
Luke took control of the bike and he and Leia rode side-by-side as they pursued the fourth Scout, who had a tremendous lead on them. Luke gave a grimace as a low-hanging tree branch struck his helmet, damaging it. Suddenly, a laser blast came out of nowhere behind the two Rebels and they turned round to see that two more Scout Troopers had entered the fray. "Keep on that one, I'll take these two!" Luke told Leia, and promptly slammed on his bike's reverse thrust, causing his bike to slow down and the two Scouts to whizz past him, a trick he'd seen Malia perform on her swoop bike when they were growing up on Tatooine. Now that he was behind the two Scouts, Luke opened fire on them with his bike's blaster cannon, scoring a direct hit on the fifth Scout's bike, which went out of control and crashed into a tree, exploding on impact and killing the Scout instantly.
~8~
Leia continued to pursue the fourth Scout. As she closed the distance, she decided to try and take him by surprise and pulled her bike up in a steep climb. The Scout looked behind him and saw that he was no longer being pursued and began to relax. Suddenly, a laser blast impacted a tree and Leia's bike came zooming down alongside the Scout, who promptly unholstered his blaster pistol and took several pot-shots at the Princess. Leia's petite build meant that she managed to avoid the shots being fired at her, but her luck ran out when one shot caught the back of her bike and knocked her off. Leia fell to the ground, tumbled head over heels and passed out.
The Scout looked behind him to see Leia's unmanned bike crash into a tree and explode. Feeling pleased with himself, the Scout turned around and saw that he was on a collision course with a fallen tree trunk. He barely had time to scream before his bike smashed into the trunk and exploded, taking the Scout with it.
~8~
Luke continued his pursuit of the sixth Scout, closing the distance until he was right alongside it and the two bikes began to trade paint, their riders determined to try and knock each other off. They had to pull away from each other to avoid a bank of trees and Luke had to skilfully pilot his bike on it's side to weave between two very closely-spaced trees. Once they reached a wide-enough gap between the trees, Luke and the Scout resumed their shoving match, the two bikes repeatedly banging into each other. The Scout Trooper was relentless with his shoving, determined to force Luke to crash into a tree. Realising that he had only one chance, Luke leapt from the bike and landed flat on his back on the ground while his bike ploughed into the tree and exploded. Luke picked himself up to see the Scout coming round to finish him off, so he ignited his lightsabre and used it to deflect the shots from the bike's blaster cannon, before giving one mighty slash and succeeding in severing the bike's steering vanes. The bike spiralled out of control and smashed into a tree, exploding on impact. Panting heavily, Luke removed his damaged helmet, deactivated his lightsabre and set off to find his friends.
~8~
Han and the rest of the Rebel strike team were waiting anxiously at the clearing where Luke and Leia had left them. Suddenly, Artoo beeped as he detected a life-form approaching.
"General Solo, someone's coming." Threepio warned
Han leapt to his feet, blaster at the ready, but relaxed when he saw who the newcomer was. "Luke!" he smiled, then realised that Luke was alone. "Where's Leia?"
"What, she didn't come back?" Luke asked worriedly
"I thought she was with you." Han replied bitterly
"We got separated." Luke explained, "We'd better go look for her."
Han nodded his agreement. "Take the squad ahead." he ordered the strike team captain, "We'll meet at the shield generator at 0300."
"Come on, Artoo, we'll need your scanners." Luke said to the Astromech droid.
"Don't worry, Master Luke. We know what to do." Threepio assured the Jedi, then he turned to Artoo. "And you said it was pretty here. Gah!" he grumbled.
~8~
Leia regained consciousness to feel something prodding her in the back repeatedly. "Cut it out!" she grumbled as she rolled over to see a petite furry creature pointing a spear at her. This was an Ewok, an indigenous species of Endor.
The Ewok growled and brandished his spear threateningly at the stranger.
Leia could only groan and rub her bruises. She hadn't broken any bones, but she was sore all over and her helmet was cracked. She got to her feet and sat down on a fallen tree trunk. "I'm not gonna hurt you." she assured the Ewok, who continued to point his spear at her. "Well, looks like I'm stuck here." Leia remarked as she surveyed her surroundings, "Trouble is, I dunno where here is." She turned to the Ewok. "Maybe you can help me. Come on. Sit down." She patted the spot next to her.
The Ewok growled apprehensively and continued to aim his spear at her.
"I promise I won't hurt you, now come here." Leia persisted
The Ewok just growled and stood his ground.
Leia decided to try another tact. "Alright. You want something to eat?" she asked, taking out a piece of food from the ration bag on her belt.
The Ewok eyed the piece of food with curiosity and slowly lowered his spear, then made his way closer to Leia.
"That's right." Leia said, seeing that it was working. She took a bite out of the piece of food to show the Ewok that it was safe to eat then gave it to him. The Ewok sniffed the food then took a bite, seeming to like it, then he sat down beside Leia, seemingly satisfied that she meant him no harm. Leia than removed her shattered helmet and felt the bruises on her head.
The Ewok jumped and leapt to his feet with his spear at the ready, talking frenziedly in his native language.
Leia realised that she'd spooked the Ewok. "Look. It's a hat, it's not gonna hurt you. Look." she said, showing the Ewok the helmet, "You're a jittery little thing, aren't you?" she remarked as the Ewok examined the helmet carefully.
The Ewok seemed to calm down for a moment, then he sniffed the air and suddenly went on the defensive again, holding his spear tightly.
"What is it?" Leia asked, seeing nothing strange anywhere.
The Ewok said something in his language, pointing his spear in one direction.
Suddenly, a laser blast came out of nowhere and both Leia and the Ewok tumbled off the tree trunk. Leia unholstered her blaster pistol and peered over the top of the trunk to see who had fired at them, but she saw nothing there. A second blast came out of nowhere, so Leia hit the deck. The Ewok crawled underneath the trunk to hide, while Leia peered over the top again. "Freeze!" a male voice demanded from behind her, and she spun round to see a Scout Trooper aiming his blaster pistol at her. "Come on, get up!" the Scout demanded, snatched Leia's weapon from her. A second Scout came out of hiding from behind some nearby bushes. "Go get your ride, take her back to base." the first Scout ordered
"Yes, sir!" the second Scout acknowledged, and headed off to where they'd parked their bikes nearby.
What the first Scout didn't know was that the Ewok was hiding underneath the tree truck. The Ewok suddenly whacked the Scout in the shin with his spear. "What the...?" the Scout began, looking down.
Leia took advantage of the distraction and whacked the Scout on the head with a branch, then she retrieved her pistol and fired at the second Scout as he tried to ride away. Leia fired at the fuel tank of the first Scout's bike and scored a direct hit. The bike exploded just as the second Scout rode over it and his bike was caught in the blast and exploded too, taking the Scout with it. The Ewok came out of hiding and said something in his language, apparently impressed at Leia's actions.
"Come on. Let's get outta here." Leia said, holstering her pistol. She helped the Ewok down off the trunk and began to lead the way.
The Ewok stopped her and said something in his language, then led Leia another way.
~8~
Vader had returned to the Death Star and made his way to Emperor's Tower. He stepped out of the lift to see Palpatine sitting in his throne with his back to Vader. "I told you to remain on the command ship." Palpatine said curtly, not turning round.
"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor." Vader reported
"Yes, I know." Palpatine said casually, turning his throne around to face Vader.
"My son is with them." Vader continued
This seemed to be news to Palpatine. "Are you sure?" he questioned
"I have felt him, my Master."
"Strange that I have not." Palpatine remarked, leaning forward in his throne, "I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader." he said with implied threat.
"They are clear, my Master." Vader reassured him
"Then you must go to the sentry moon and wait for him." Palpatine said
"He will come to me?" Vader questioned
"I have foreseen it." Palpatine replied, leaning back in his throne, "His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you, and then you will bring him before me."
"As you wish." Vader bowed, then left the throne room.
Palpatine turned his throne around to look out of the window again. 'Not much longer now.' he thought to himself, well pleased at how things were going.
~8~
Luke was searching for Leia when he found Leia's discarded helmet lying on the ground near to the smouldering remains of two speeder bikes. "Luke! Luke!" Han's voice called, and Luke hurried off to where Han, Chewbacca and the droids were nearby.
"Oh, Master Luke." Threepio sighed, and Han pointed to the remains of more crashed bikes.
"There's two more wrecked speeders back there." Luke told Han, "And I found this." He showed Han Leia's wrecked helmet.
"I'm afraid Artoo's sensors can find no trace of Princess Leia." Threepio reported gloomily
"I hope she's alright." Han said worriedly
Luke could only nod in agreement.
Chewbacca growled suddenly and began to walk away.
"What, Chewie?" Han asked, following him. Chewbacca led them to where the carcass of an animal was hanging on a rope. "Hey, I don't get it. It's just a dead animal, Chewie." Han said dismissively
Chewbacca saw the dead animal as dinner and began to reach for it. "Chewie, wait! Don't!" Luke hollered, rushing forward to stop him but it was too late.
A huge rope net suddenly sprang up and ensnared the quintet, hoisting them high of the ground.
"Nice work. Great, Chewie. Great. Always thinkin' with your stomach." Han grumbled
"Take it easy. Let's just figure out a way to get outta this thing." Luke told him, "Han, can you reach my lightsabre?"
"Yeah, sure." Han replied, starting to reach for Luke's lightsabre.
Artoo meanwhile had a better idea and starting cutting through the ropes with his Buzzsaw appendage. "Artoo, I'm not sure that's such a good idea." Threepio warned, "It's a very long drop..." He was suddenly cut off when the net split open and it's occupants all fell to the ground in a heap.
Luke and Han sat up just in time to see about 20 Ewoks come out of hiding behind the bushes and surround the quintet, all talking in their native language. One of them promptly thrust it's spear at Han. "Hey! Point that thing some place else!" Han grumbled, shoving the spear away.
The Ewok said something to the one next to it and then aimed it's spear at Han again.
"Hey!" Han snarled, unholstering his pistol.
"Han, don't. It'll be alright." Luke told him, deciding that appearing aggressive would only make things worse. To show that they meant no harm, Luke gave his lightsabre to one of the Ewoks, who then snatched Han's blaster too. "Chewie, give 'em your crossbow." Luke called to Chewbacca, who was currently fighting with another Ewok over his bowcaster.
Chewbacca gave a grunt and begrudgingly complied.
At that moment, Threepio sat up. "Oh, my head." he complained.
The Ewoks all gasped at the sight of the shiny gold Protocol droid and began chatting excitedly amongst themselves, then some of them starting bowing and chanting. Luke, Han and Chewbacca could only stare in bewilderment at what was going on around them.
Threepio quickly sized up the situation and said something to the Ewoks in their language. "Do you understand anything they're saying?" Luke asked the droid
"Oh, yes, Master Luke." Threepio replied, "Remember, I am fluent in over six million forms of communi..."
"What're you tellin' them?" Han interrupted impatiently
"Hello, I think." Threepio replied, "I could be mistaken, they're using a very primitive dialect, but I do believe they think I am some sort of god."
Luke had to bite his lip to avoid laughing at this news, while Artoo made an amused chirp and Chewbacca gave an amused howl.
"Well, why dontcha use ya divine influence and get us outta this?" Han said irritably to Threepio
"I beg your pardon, General Solo, but that just wouldn't be proper." Threepio replied
"Proper?!" Han glowered
"It's against my programming to impersonate a deity." Threepio said
"Why you..." Han began, getting up to lunge at the droid, but the Ewoks all promptly aimed their spears at him and began shouting at him in their language. "My mistake." Han began meekly, "He's an old friend of mine."
Luke could only facepalm. Once again, Han's bull-headed attitude had landed them in trouble.
Author's notes: And after a day's gap, we've got another chapter. We're now on Endor and have met the Ewoks. Note that Malia was entirely absent for this chapter. She's likely to be absent for the next chapter too, as they mainly focus on the Endor stuff and Malia isn't part of the Endor strike team. She'll return once we get back to the Rebel fleet scenes, complete with her own squadron to command. It's interesting to observe Luke's actions during the Ewok scenes. He's learned from his experience with Yoda and tries to be diplomatic, whereas Han is bull-headed and aggressive which only makes things worse. An interesting contrast there. This chapter featured the speeder chase which is one of ROTJ's many stand-out action scenes. It's interesting to compare this chase with the one from Book of Boba Fett. That chase was pathetic! It's highly unlikely that I'll be doing any sequel trilogy-related stuff as I find two of those three films unwatchable. If you're a sequel trilogy fan then I apologise, but I will not be covering any of them! Anyway, hope you like this chapter and I hope to see you next time.