The Rebel Base
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The Millennium Falcon flew through hyperspace towards the Yavin system. Luke, Malia and Chewbacca had all gone into the passenger area to have much-needed showers, leaving Han and Leia alone in the cockpit. "Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh?" Han said smugly, "Ya know, sometimes I amaze even myself."
"That doesn't sound too hard." Leia said dryly, "They let us go. It's the only explanation for the ease of our escape."
Easy?! Ya call that easy?!" Han scoffed
"They're tracking us." Leia told him
"Not this ship, sister." Han denied
Leia could only shake her head in frustration at Han's attitude. "At least the information in Artoo is still intact." she sighed
"What's so important? What's he carrying?" Han pushed
"The technical readouts of that battle station." Leia told him, "I only hope that when the data's analysed, a weakness can be found. It's not over yet." she said grimly. Leia knew only too well that a heavy price had been paid to get the Death Star plans in the first place. She also knew that a weakness had been deliberately engineered into the battle station by one of the people who had worked on it as a last act of defiance against his cruel masters, but circumstances had meant that the weakness hadn't been fully explained to the Rebels.
"It is for me, sister." Han said, "Look, I ain't in this for ya revolution, and I'm not in it for you, Princess. I expect to be well paid. I'm in it for the money."
"You needn't worry about your reward. If money's all that you love, then that's what you'll receive." Leia hissed lowly and got to her feet. "Your friend's quite a mercenary." she said to Luke, who had just joined them, "I wonder if he cares about anything... or anybody." Leia finished and left the cockpit.
"I care." Luke called after her, "And so does Malia." He then sat down next to Han. "So... what'd ya think of her, Han?" he asked
"I'm tryin' not to, kid." Han grunted
"Good." Luke muttered
"Still, she's got a lotta spirit." Han conceded, "Aye, I dunno... D'ya think a princess and a guy like me...?"
"No." Luke rolled his eyes
"Hmm. What about that gorgeous cousin of yours?" Han tried cheekily
"Don't even think about it." Luke hissed warningly
"I'm kiddin'." Han rolled his eyes, "Some people just can't take a joke."
~8~
Malia felt much better now that she'd had a shower. After drying herself off and getting dressed again, she entered the passenger compartment running a towel through her hair. "Feeling better?" a voice asked, and Malia turned to see Leia sitting down by the dejarik table.
"Yeah, much better." Malia replied, removing the towel from her hair, "It's good not to be smelling of garbage anymore."
"Who did you loose?" Leia asked out of the blue
"What?"
"I saw the look on your face when you were shooting at those Stormtroopers." Leia said, "It was a look of bloodlust, as if you wanted them to suffer. The Empire killed someone close to you, didn't they?"
"They killed my parents." Malia sighed, sitting down beside the princess, "They came looking for the droids and they killed my parents by burning them alive and just dumping their remains out in the sand like animals."
"I'm sorry." Leia said sympathetically
"And I wasn't there." Malia continued, "While they were being killed, I was away listening to stories about Jedi. I should've been there with them." she sighed
"There wasn't anything you could've done." Leia told her, "You would've been killed too."
"Yeah, that's what Ben said." Malia sighed, "And now he's dead too. I hate the Empire." she said darkly
"You're not alone." Leia said, "All across the galaxy there's people who have lost loved ones, their homes, their way of life... all because of the Empire. When we get to base, I'll speak to Command and see if there's a place for you in the Alliance."
"Well, Luke and I are pilots." Malia said, "Is there any room for a couple of pilots?"
"Always." Leia smiled, knowing that the Rebel Alliance would be glad of any pilot they could get.
~8~
The Falcon had soon arrived in the Yavin system. The ship flew past Yavin Prime and approached the forested fourth moon, coming into land at an ancient Massassi temple which housed the Rebel Alliance's base. After landing, the Falcon's passengers were conveyed aboard a transport through a hanger full of T-65 X-wing starfighters and BTL-A4 Y-wing bombers. The transport stopped at the end of the hanger and everyone disembarked. A Rebel official approached Leia and greeted her warmly. "You're safe." he said in relief, "When we heard about Alderaan, we feared the worst."
"We don't have time for our sorrows, Commander." Leia said grimly, "You must use the information inside this R2 unit to help plan the attack. It's our only hope."
Artoo was soon taken to the base's command centre where a technician plugged him into a computer and the Death Star plans began to be analysed.
~8~
The Death Star entered the Yavin system. Vader and Tarkin were in a briefing room when they received a call from the control room. "Yes?" Tarkin said as he answered the call
"We're approaching the planet Yavin." an officer reported, "The Rebel base is on a moon on the far side. We are preparing to orbit the planet."
~8~
The plans that Artoo had been carrying had been analysed and General Jan Dodonna was giving a briefing on the superweapon. "The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a firepower greater than half the starfleet." he explained while the Death Star's schematics were displayed on a viewscreen, "It's defences are designed around a direct, large-scale assault. A small, one-man fighter should be able to penetrate the outer defence."
Chewbacca looked at Han upon hearing this, and the smuggler rolled his eyes, believing the general was talking nonsense.
"Pardon me for asking, sir, but what good are snub fighters gonna be against that?" Jon Vander, commander of the Rebels' Gold Squadron, asked. He'd participated in the mission to acquire the Death Star plans from the Empire's vault on Scarif and he'd seen for himself just what the terrifying battle station could do.
"Well, the Empire doesn't consider a small one-man fighter to be any threat, or they'd have a tighter defence." Dodonna answered, "An analysis of the plans provided by Princess Leia has demonstrated a weakness in the battle station. But the approach will not be easy." The schematics showed a trench running along the Death Star's surface. "You're required to maneuverer straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point." Dodonna explained, "The target area is only two metres wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system." The schematic displayed a projectile striking the exhaust port. "A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station." The projectile on the screen struck the reactor and an explosion graphic was shown. "Only a precise hit will set up a chain reaction." Dodonna warned, "The shaft is ray-shielded, so you'll have to use proton torpedoes."
"That's impossible, even for a computer." the pilot sitting next to Luke and Malia muttered
"It's not impossible." Luke told him, "I used to bullseye womp rats in the T-16 back home, they're not much bigger than two metres."
"Ya know, that's not quite the same thing." Malia commented
"Then man your ships, and may the Force be with you." Dodonna finished the briefing.
~8~
Vader and Tarkin stood in the Death Star's control room watching preparations for the attack on the Rebel base. "Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity." an officer reported, "The moon with the Rebel base will be in range in 30 minutes."
"This will be a day long remembered." Vader commented, "It has seen the end of Kenobi... and will see the end of the Rebellion."
~8~
"All flight crews, man your stations." a tannoy speaker said as the hangar of the Rebel base was a hive of activity, with the X-wings and Y-wings being prepared for the attack of the Death Star.
Luke entered the hanger dressed in an orange flight suit. Red Squadron had lost some fighters during the battle at Scarif, so Luke and Malia had both volunteered to fill those gaps, with Luke being assigned the position of Red Five and Malia would be Red Eight. Luke's eyes fell on Han and Chewbacca, who were loading up a transport with crates. Annoyed, Luke crossed over to them "So... ya got ya reward and you're just leaving, then?" he asked dryly
"That's right, yeah." Han replied, "Got some old debts I've gotta pay off with this stuff. And even if I didn't, ya don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do ya? Why don't you and Malia come with us? You're both good in a fight, we could us ya both."
"Come on. Why don't ya take a look around?" Luke implored, "You know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you, you're turning ya back on them."
"What good's a reward if ya ain't around to use it?" Han retorted indifferently, "Besides, attackin' that battle station ain't my idea of courage. That's more like... suicide."
Luke narrowed his eyes at the self-centred smuggler. "Alright. Well, take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's what ya best at, isn't it?" he said harshly and began to walk away.
"Hey, Luke..." Han called after him, causing Luke to turn back around. "May the Force be with you." Han said with genuine sincerity
Luke nodded tightly and walked away. After he'd gone, Chewbacca growled something at Han.
"What're you looking at?" Han grunted, "I know what I'm doing."
~8~
Malia entered the hanger and looked at the fighters being prepared for lift-off, the enormity of what she'd gotten herself into hitting her. "Nervous?" a voice said beside her and she turned to see a dark-haired man in his early twenties standing there. "It's alright to say you are." the man said
"Yeah, I'm nervous." Malia admitted
"Don't be ashamed, I am too." the pilot said, "We all are. I'm Wedge Antilles, Red Two." he introduced, holding out a hand.
"Malia Lars, Red Eight." Malia reciprocated, shaking Wedge's hand
"Ah, so you're Malia Lars." Wedge said, "And that blond guy you were with must be Luke Skywalker."
"How'd ya know who we are?" Malia asked
"Let's just say we have a mutual friend." Wedge winked, "Welcome to Red Squadron, Malia. We've got each other's backs, so you'll be fine." he assured her, "Gotta say, it's nice to have a girl in the team."
"Thanks."
"I heard you and Luke are pretty swish pilots." Wedge continued, "Looking forward to seeing ya both in action."
"We'll try not to disappoint." Malia shrugged
"All pilots to your stations." the tannoy ordered
"Ah, better get a move on." Wedge said, "Nice to meet ya, Malia."
"You too, Wedge." Malia replied, and they went their separate ways. Malia soon caught up with Luke, who was making his way through the hangar towards his assigned ship. "What's up?" she asked when she reached him
"Oh, it's Han." Luke replied, "I dunno. I really thought he'd change his mind."
"Ah, some people never change." Malia replied, "Don't bother about him. It's his loss."
"I only wish Ben were here." Luke sighed
"I know." Malia replied, giving his hand a comforting squeeze, "And I wish mom and dad were here."
"Guess all we can do is try to do 'em all proud." Luke said determinedly
"And we will." Malia concurred, and so both cousins resumed their journey through the hangar.
Presently, they reached their assigned X-wings and were just walked under the S-foil of Luke's fighter when they both heard a voice calling to them; "Hey, Luke! Malia!"
Both cousins turned to see a dashing young dark-haired man with a moustache running up to them. "Biggs!" they exclaimed in delight, recognising the man as their old friend Biggs Darklighter
"I don't believe it!" Biggs laughed as he ran over to them, "How are ya both?"
"Better now, Biggs!" Luke laughed
"Ya looking good, 'Lia." Biggs winked at Malia
"You too, Biggs." Malia smiled, "Love the 'tash."
"Hey, you both coming up?" Biggs asked
"We'll be right up there with ya and have we got stories to tell you." Luke grinned
Just then, Garvin Dries, the commander of Red Squadron, walked over to the trio. "Skywalker, Lars, you both sure you can handle these ships?" he asked sternly
Before either cousin could answer, Biggs vouched for them. "Sir, Luke is the best bush pilot in the Outer Rim territories and Malia's one hell of a pilot herself." he said, putting an arm around each cousin's shoulders.
Dries turned to Luke and his expression changed to a softer one. "I met ya father once when I was just a boy." he said kindly, "He was a great pilot. If you've got half the skill he had, you'll do alright."
"Thank you, sir, I'll try." Luke nodded
Dries then turned to Malia. "And you, Lars, if you've got the same blood running through your veins, you'll do alright too."
"I'll do my best, sir." Malia nodded, and Dries walked away.
"I gotta get aboard." Biggs said to his two old friends, "I'll hear all ya stories when we get back, alright?"
"Hey, Biggs. I told ya I'd make it someday." Luke grinned
"It'll be like old times, Luke. They'll never stop us." Biggs smirked, "And 'Lia, do I get a kiss for old times sake?"
Malia promptly kissed Biggs. "And there'll be another one when we get back." she purred
"Looking forward to it." Biggs grinned, and he walked away towards his own X-wing.
Malia then walked over to where her X-wing was stationed opposite Luke's, while Luke began to climb the ladder up to his cockpit. Artoo was being lifted up by an overhead crane ready to be lowered into the fighter's droid socket, supervised by a technician named Scotti Tracee. "This R2 unit of your seems a bit beat up. Want a new one?" he asked Luke
"Not on your life." Luke replied, "That little droid and I have been through a lot together. You ok, Artoo?"
Artoo beeped an affirmative response as he was lowered into the droid socket.
"Good." Luke smiled and climbed into the cockpit.
Threepio had come to see them off. "Hang on tight, Artoo. You've GOT to come back." he said
Artoo beeped an amused response at the Protocol droid's concern for his wellbeing.
"You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?" Threepio asked
Artoo beeped a response, promising Threepio that he would do his best to get back in one piece.
Malia meanwhile had boarded her X-wing. As she watched the cockpit canopy close, she steeled herself ready for what she was about to do. "Mom, dad, this is for you." she murmured, then turned to her assigned droid, R4-A60. "Alright, Arfour, let's get this baby going." she said, and Arfour began the X-wing's start-up routine.
The hanger echoed to the sound of engines as the X-wings and Y-wings prepared for lift-off. Ground crew technicians cleared the hangar and directed the fighters towards the doors with their glow batons. As Luke lifted his X-wing off the ground, he heard Obi-Wan's voice in his head; "Luke, the Force will be with you."
Luke blinked, wandering if he was imagining it, then he snapped back to the here and now and carefully followed the other fighters out of the hangar doors and up into the sky, their mission: destroy the Death Star before it made Yavin IV it's next victim.
~8~
Leia and Threepio entered the base's control room, where field commanders were gathered round a giant display showing Yavin Prime and it's moons. A red dot representing the Death Star slowly made it's way across the map. "Stand by alert: Death Star approaching." a radar station reported, "Estimated time to firing range: 15 minutes."
Everyone in the room exchanged looks. It was up to the fighter pilots now. They were the Rebellion's only hope.
Author's notes: And so we've reached the Rebel base and prepared for the attack on the Death Star. I decided to have Malia participate in the Battle of Yavin as otherwise she'd just be standing around at the base doing nothing, and I noticed that a fair few Rebel fighters were lost during the Battle of Scarif in Rogue One, so I thought Malia could volunteer to help with the assault on the Death Star. Regarding her call sign, I noticed that no mention is made at all of Red Eight during A New Hope, so I've given that callsign to Malia. I am aware that Alena Firestar has done the exact same thing with their OC Aeris, so I hope this doesn't come across as copying. Also note that I included the deleted scene where Red Leader says that he once met Anakin Skywalker. I decided to include that scene as it creates a certain irony in that his death came at the hands of Anakin Skywalker. Regarding the Biggs scene, I imagine that Malia and Biggs were romantically involved back on Tatooine, hence why she kisses him here. As for Malia's droid, I imagine R4-A60 to be that generic red & white Astromech droid that Lego used to include in Star Wars sets between 1999 and 2007. Wonder if Lego will ever do an updated version of that minifigure, as we haven't seen it since 2007. The varied Astromechs we've had in modern sets are wonderful, but that red & white droid had a certain charm to it and it'd be nice to see it again. Anyway, hope you like this chapter and I hope to see you next time for the Battle of Yavin. I'm looking forward to that scene!
