Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Okay, before we get started, I just want to point something out. This story has officially hit 700 reviews! That is incredible! I have never received so many reviews on a single story, and this story isn't even half over yet. I never could've imagined when I started the first story how big this series would grow, and I have you all to thank for it. I really thank all of you for your continued support of this series, and I hope you and many others will continue to support this series as it continues.
So, for the next couple of chapters, it will focus entirely on Han, Leia, Chewie, Kelly, and 3PO. I'm not going to cover Luke on Dagobah, because there will be no changes there. I may include a brief scene right when he leaves for Cloud City, but nothing more. Also, this chapter will introduce a ship that will become very significant to this series later on.
Let's get to it.
1049: Not just the T-90. Against dedicated anti-tank rounds from almost any tank, AT-STs stand no chance, and even the AT-AT is threatened.
the mysterious Mr.E: Glad to hear that. And yes, I will use your OC again soon.
RandomFanAuthor: Honestly, I just think of first and last names, and look them up if they're from other countries or cultures, and just find a combination I like.
Dalej0523: I've actually considered that. I may decide to do that at some point, but no spoilers.
anthonyapodaca63: Yes. In this world, the YF-22 was chosen as the US Air Force's premier air superiority fighter, and the YF-23 was selected to be adapted into the Terran Starfleet's new space superiority fighter.
Sectrooper: Yeah, the Terrans like to adapt Imperial designs they consider promising.
CT7567Rules: They have the heavy laser cannons under their chins like AT-ATs. However, where the AT-AT had lighter laser cannons on the side of their heads, the Leviathan has miniguns. Also, on their belly, they have a rotating laser cannon turret for anti-personnel duties and to protect them from below
pervy sage: Not really, but mainly because the Terran Alliance keeps the Jedi away from such missions, and the Jedi recognize that the Alliance has to do such missions on occasion.
Guest: Yes, the Terrans will upgrade the Star Forge over time.
AJ: No, Vice Admiral Montgomery is a real person who was served as Second Sea Lord of the Royal Navy about ten years ago. As far as I know, he's not related to General Montgomery.
Guest: I do hope to do a story about members of the AST team after the Clone Wars, and that may be a subject I will explore in such a story.
Guest: Cal will show up soon enough.
Guest: I think, instead of that, I may do a story set shortly after the end of the Clone Wars, and explore the introduction of aliens to Earth more in that story. I don't know how well doing a chapter in this story would work out, given that it's been 20 years now, and Earth has had time to adjust. I may show bits of it, but I'll focus on it more in an EU story.
Chapter 37- The Chase
(October 24, 2015)
Kelly narrows her eyes as she pulls the trigger, firing the Falcon's belly laser turret as the TIE fighters pursuing the ship. Behind the TIE fighters, one of the Star Destroyers of Death Squadron is also giving chase.
Kelly maneuvers the laser cannon, trying to get the TIEs into her gunsight. The TIEs swerve and zip around, firing at the Falcon. Kelly tries to keep up with them, but is finding them too unpredictable in their movements.
One of the TIEs steadies a bit, and Kelly swivels the turret in its direction. The tureet sends a volley of laser bolts towards the TIE, blowing it to pieces.
"Yes!" Kelly says. However, a moment later, a laser bolt from another TIE hits the turret, jamming it in place pointed straight down.
Kelly curses under her breath and abandons the turret. The dorsal turret is currently not working, so instead of climbing up to it, Kelly makes her way to the cockpit.
"I saw 'em! I saw 'em!" she hears Han yelling as she rushes into the cockpit.
"What is it?" Kelly demands.
"Star Destroyers. Two of 'em, coming straight at us!" Han says. He then turns to Chewie and says, "Angle the deflector shields."
Chewie growls a few times. Han growls a bit before saying, "Great! Well, we can still outmaneuver 'em!"
Han thrusts the throttles forward and guides the Falcon between the upcoming Star Destroyers before diving away. Behind him, the captain of the Star Destroyer pursuing him orders his officers, "Take evasive action!"
Alarms sounds on all three Star Destroyers as they begin taking evasive action. Meanwhile, the Falcon streaks away from them, still being pursued by several TIE fighters.
"Prepare to make the jump to lightspeed," Han says.
"But, sir!" 3PO protests, although he is completely ignored.
Chewie pulls a few levers as Leia says, "They're getting closer!"
"Oh, yeah? Watch this!" Han says. He reaches forward and pulls the levers to activate the hyperdrive. Instead of the ship jumping to lightspeed, they hear the sound of an engine sputtering.
"I don't think that was supposed to happen," Kelly says with a bit of sarcasm.
"I think we're in trouble," Han says.
"If I may say so, sir, I noticed earlier the hyperdrive motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to light speed," 3PO says.
"We're in trouble," says Han as he clambers out of his seat and races out of the cockpit with Chewie. Kelly leaps into his seat to take over the controls.
Kelly pulls the Falcon into a series of rolls and tight turns, trying to avoid the TIE fighters that are still hot on their tail. Laser fire streaks past the ship, but Kelly tries her best to avoid the incoming fire.
Suddenly, she sees something up ahead. "What is that?" she mutters under her breath. Then, as they get closer, she starts to recognize what they are.
"Oh-" she starts to say, but she's cut off by a bang as something heavy hits the ship. This is followed up only seconds later by another impact.
"Han, get up here!" Leia says into the intercom so Han will hear them wherever he is on the ship.
It takes only moments for Han to reutn to the cockpit with Chewie. Kelly gets out of the pilot's seat as Leia points out of the viewport and says, "Asteroids."
Han pushes through them and into the pilot's seat as Chewie takes his place in the co-pilot's seat. Han then says to Chewie, "Chewie, set two-seven-one."
"What are you doing? You're not actually going into an asteroid field?!" Leia protests.
"They'd be crazy to follow us, wouldn't they?" Han says.
Kelly feels very nervous. These asteroids are much closer to each other than the asteroids in the asteroid belt back home, and even in that place, Terran ships are very careful when going through the asteroid belt.
"You don't have to do this to impress me," Leia says.
"Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1," 3PO says.
"Never tell me the odds," Han says.
Han begins guiding the Falcon around the asteroids ahead of them, keeping as close to the asteroids as he can. Behind them, the TIE fighters try to stay on their tail. However, one is hit by an asteroid and blows up. Seconds later, another TIE grazes another asteroid and goes tumbling before exploding.
Inside the Falcon, 3PO keeps gasping and crying out in fear as asteroids fly past the ship. Kelly is growing annoyed at the droid, but keeps her mouth shut.
"You said you wanted to be here when I made a mistake. This could be it, sweetheart," Han says.
"I take it back," Leia says, "We're gonna get pulverized if we stay out here much longer."
"I ain't gonna argue with that. I'm going in closer to one of the big ones," Han says.
"Closer?!" 3PO and Leia both say at the same time. Kelly, however, silently agrees with Han.
Han takes the Falcon down towards a massive asteroid close by. The two remaining TIE fighters try to follow, still firing their laser cannons. However, Han flies the Falcon into a tight gorge on the asteroid's surface, flying right through the narrow mouth of the gorge. The TIEs try to follow, but the space is too tight, and the two TIEs crash.
"This is suicide! There's nowhere to go!" 3PO says.
Han, however, has spotted something. "There. That looks pretty good," he says.
"What looks pretty good?" Leia asks.
"Yeah, that'll do nicely," Han says as he dives the Falcon down into a large cave in the asteroid's surface.
As the Falcon flies into the cave, Leia says, "I hope you know what you're doing."
"Yeah, me too," Han says.
Han finally sets the Falcon down a great distance back into the cave to reduce the risk of them being seen by anyone outside the cave. As he sets the ship down, Kelly says, "Alright. I'll head back and get started on the repairs."
Outside the asteroid field, on the Star Destroyer Stalker, the Imperial captain looks ahead of the ship at the asteroid field in the distance.
"We have confirmation that the Millenium Falcon entered the asteroid field?" the captain asks out loud.
"Yes, Captain," an officer says.
Suddenly, alarms begin to blare. "Sir, several ships dropping out of hyperspace!" an officer calls out.
"What?" the captain says. He looks out of the viewport, and just then, sees a Repulse class battlecruiser drop out of hyperspace. However, to his surprise, the two ships that drop out of hyperspace with it are both Imperial class Star Destroyers.
"Pull back!" the captain orders. The officers on the bridge hurry to turn the Star Destroyer around.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the battlecruiser TAS Hood, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery sees the Stalker beginning to turn around. "Signal the Inquisitor and Adjudicator. Focus turbolaser fire on that Star Destroyer," he orders.
The order is relayed, and soon, the two former Imperial Star Destroyers open fire on the Stalker. As the Stalker retreats under a hail of fire, Montgomery says, "Move the ship forward and keep it between Death Squadron and the asteroid field. I don't want them to have a free pass into that field."
The Hood moves forward to take up a covering position outside the asteroid field, determined not to let the Imperials find the Falcon.
On board the Executor, Admiral Piett makes his way into Darth Vader's quarters. As he walks towards the large chamber in the middle, he sees a device lowering Vader's helmet onto his heavily scarred head. Once the helmet is in place, Vader turns around to face Piett.
"Yes, Admiral?" Vader asks.
"Our ships have sighted the Millenium Falcon, lord, but it has entered an asteroid field, and a Terran battlecruiser is guarding the field, and we cannot risk our…" Piett says.
Vader interrupts Piett and says, "Neither asteroids nor Terran warships concern me, Admiral. I want that ship, not excuses."
"Yes, my lord," Piett says as the chamber closes around Vader.
Piett makes his way back to the bridge. "All ships, set course for the asteroid field. I want this ship to distract the Terran battlecruiser and her escorts while all other ships are to sweep the asteroid field to find the Millenium Falcon," he orders.
Kelly twists the section of pipe she's working on with a wrench, tightening it in place. She and the others have been working on repairs for almost a half hour. Hopefully, they'll be able to get back underway soon enough.
As she straightens up, she says Han walking over to where Leia is working on something. As she watches, Han tries to help with something, and Leia shoves him away. "Hey, your Worship, I'm only trying to help."
"Would you please stop calling me that?" Leia replies in irritation.
"Sure, Leia," Han says. Kelly smiles a bit. She likes watching the banter between Han and Leia.
Han keeps speaking, "You could be a bit nicer. Come on, sometimes, you think I'm alright."
Leia tightens down the part she was working on, then turns to Han and says, "Occassionally, maybe. When you aren't acting like a scoundrel."
Han takes one of her hands in his and says, "Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that."
Leia looks down at his hands and says, "Stop that?"
"Stop what?" Han asks.
"Stop that. My hands are dirty," Leia says.
"My hands are dirty too. What are you afraid of?" Han asks.
"Afraid?" Leia asks.
"You're trembling," Han points out.
"I'm not trembling," Leia denies.
"You like me because I'm a scoundrel. There aren't enough scoundrels in your life," Han says.
"I happen to like nice men," Leia says.
"I'm nice," Han says. And before Leia can do much more, he leans in and kisses her.
Kelly tries to keep herself from chuckling as she watches this. Then, 3PO rushes up and says, "Sir, sir, I isolated the reverse power flux coupling."
Kelly facepalms as she sees this, trying very hard not to laugh. She then turns and tries to get back to work.
"And that sir, was the last time they appeared on our scopes. Considering the damage we've sustained, they must have been destroyed," Captain Needa of the Avenger says over the transmission to Darth Vader.
"No, Captain. They're alive. You will continue to sweep the asteroid field, and the rest of the fleet will join you when the Terran ships are destroyed," Vader says.
"Yes, Lord Vader," Needa says before the transmission cuts off.
As the transmission cuts off, the room shakes heavily from an explosion. The Executor has been engaging the Hood for almost 15 minutes. Amazingly to the Imperials, the Hood has been lasting very well under the Executor's fire, taking less damage than they expected. Meanwhile, the two former Imperial Star Destroyers have been holding off other Star Destroyers of Death Squadron. The Imperials were also surprised at how well those two Star Destroyers were absorbing damage. Unknown to them, after their defection to the Terran Alliance, they had had their shield generators replaced by more advanced Terran shield generators which had about 25% more protective capacity than Imperial shield generators. Most of Death Squadron is now engaged with the three Terran ships and their fighter squadrons. However, the Star Destroyer Avenger and a Gozanti class cruiser had taken a long course around them to get out of their range and had entered the asteroid field from another direction, and were now combing the field for any sign of the Millenium Falcon.
As Vader turns away from where the image of Needa was just being projected, Admiral Piett hurries up to him and calls out, "Lord Vader!"
"Yes, Admiral. What is it?" Vader demands.
"The Emperor commands you to make contact with him," Piett says.
"Disengage from the Terran battlecruiser at once and put distance between us and them, so we can send a clear transmission!" Vader orders.
"Yes, Lord Vader," Piett says as Vader sweeps off towards his quarters. Piett makes his way to the bridge to relay Vader's orders, and the Executor soon turns around and starts heading away from the Hood as the rest of the Imperial warships focus their fire on the battlecruiser to try and keep the Hood occupied.
As the Executor moves away, Vice Admiral Montgomery narrows his eyes. He knows Vader is not one to just abandon battle without a reason, especially when he has a firepower advantage. He feels a bit of concern over what could have caused Vader to disengage from the battle.
On the Executor, Vader makes his way into his quarters and to a special room set apart for him to speak to the Emperor. He makes his way onto a pedestal and kneels down, bowing his head. A moment later, he raises his head as the transmission begins and a hologram of Palpatine appears, and says, "What is thy bidding, my master?"
"There is a great disturbance in the Force," Palpatine says.
"I have felt it," Vader says.
"The Terran Jedi are growing in power. But that is not all. We have a new enemy. The young rebel who destroyed the Death Star. I have no doubt that this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker," Palpatine says.
"How is that possible?" Vader asks, feeling shock for the first time in many years.
"Search your feelings, Lord Vader. You will know it to be true. He could destroy us," Palpatine says.
"He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him," Vader says.
"The Force is strong with him. I have sensed his growing relationship with the daughter of Samuel Adams. With her by his side, and the Terran Jedi ready to teach him, he could grow to become a great Jedi. This cannot be allowed to happen," Palpatine says.
"If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally," Vader says.
Palpatine pauses for a moment before saying, "Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?"
"He will join us or die, master," Vader says. He then bows again as the transmission ends.
About a half hour after that awkward exchange between Han and Leia, Kelly is working on repairing another system while Han and Chewie are working on one of the power couplings.
"Sir, if I may venture an opinion-" 3PO starts to say.
"I'm not really interested in your opinion, 3PO," Han says.
Leia suddenly comes racing into the room and says, ''There's something out there!"
Han, Chewie, and Kelly all stop what they're doing, and Han pulls up his goggles as he asks, "Where?"
"Outside in the cave," Leia says.
Right then, there is a series of bangs on the hull of the ship. "There it is! Listen! Listen!" 3PO says fearfully.
"I'm going out there," Han says.
"Are you crazy?" leia asks.
"I just got this bucket back together. I'm not going to let something tear it apart," Han says as he rushes over to where an oxygen mask is and grabs one before hurrying towards the boarding ramp.
"Well, I'm coming with you," Leia says as she grabs her own mask.
"Right behind you," Kelly says as she grabs a mask. Chewie grabs one of his own right behind her.
Han lowers the ramp, and they carefully make their way down. As they get to the bottom, Kelly notices something. She bends down and examines the cave floor through the tin mist that is lying above it. "This is weird. This doesn't seem like rock," she says.
"There's an awful lot of moisture in here," Han says after a moment.
"You're right there. At least for an asteroid," Kelly says in agreement.
"I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this," Leia says.
"Ditto," Kelly says.
Right then, they hear some kind of screeching noise. Han whips around towards the sound of it, and says, "Watch out!" as he fires his blaster. The bolt hits something hanging from the ship, and the thing collapses.
"It's all right. It's all right," Han says as he approaches the dead creature, "Yeah, that's what I thought. A mynock." He then looks up and says, "Chewie, check the rest of the ship and make sure there are no more attached, chewing on the power cables."
"Mynocks. Should've guessed it," Kelly says.
"Why don't you two head back inside? We'll clean 'em off if there are any more," Han says.
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a flock of mynocks appears out of the darkness, shrieking and whistling as they fly around them and the ship. Leia cries out as Kelly draws and ignites her lightsaber. She slashes the saber through the air, killing two mynocks as Han tries to get his ebaring son what's happening and Chewie wrestles with a mynock.
Then, Chewie, trying to get the mynock off of him, fires his crossbow. The bolt doesn't hit any of the mynocks and instead hits the wall of the cave. As it does, the cave suddenly starts to shake, and continues to do so for several seconds before it settles down.
Kelly freezes, looking around at the walls of the cave as she lowers her lightsaber to her side. Han is similarly suspicious. "Wait a minute," he mutters, before looking down at the ground and firing his blaster into the ground.
Almost immediately, the cave starts to shake. Leia stumbles around and grabs hold of the supports of the boarding ramp as Han, Chewie, and Kelly stumble over. Han herds everybody aboard.
As they get onto the ship, Han shouts, "We gotta get out of here!"
"The Empire is still out there! I don't think…" Leia starts to say.
"No time to discuss this in a committee!" Han yells.
"I am not a committee!" Leia yells back.
Han and Chewie reach the cockpit first, and they hurry as fast as they can, trying to power up the ship. Leia and Kelly follow them in. "You can't jump to lightspeed in an asteroid field!" Leia protests.
"Sit down, sweetheart, we're taking off!" Han replies curtly.
Han lifts the ship up and turns it around to start flying towards the mouth of the cave. Chewie points ahead and growls, and Han replies, "I see it. I see it."
"The cave is collapsing," Leia says.
Kelly, now realizing what's happening, says, "Leia, this isn't a cave."
"What?" Leia says.
The Falcon flies out just in time. Behind them, the massive wormlike creature surges out of the cave its living in, its jaws snapping shut just behind the Falcon. As the Falcon flies away, the worm slinks back into its cave.
Han takes a deep breath to relieve the stress before he settles in to start flying away from the asteroid.
On the bridge of the Executor, Piett walks up behind some officers, watching them as they work. He then glances up at a small group that has gathered on the bridge at Vader's request and says to one of the officers, "Bounty hunters. We don't need their scum."
"Yes, sir," the officer says.
"Those rebels won't escape us," another officer says.
Piett looks at several more screens. Then, as he turns around, he hears a growl. He looks up to see the bounty hunter Bossk looking down at him, fangs bared.
Right then, an officer walks up to him. "Sir, we have a priority signal from the Star Destroyer Avenger," the officer says.
"Right," Piett says, and makes his way to the communications terminal.
Meanwhile, Vader is speaking to the assembled bounty hunters. "There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millenium Falcon. I must also warn you that a young Terran Jedi is believed to be on board. You are free to use any methods necessary to capture them, but I want them alive," Vader says. He then looks right at Boba Fett before adding, "No disintegrations."
"As you wish," Fett says.
Right then, Piett calls out, "Lord Vader." He walks over to Vader and says, "My Lord, we have them."
Kelly grits her teeth as another explosion from a laser blast rocks the ship. Right when they though they would be able to get away, a Star Destroyer had come up behind them and opened fire on them.
"oh, thank goodness, we're coming out of the asteroid field," 3PO says as they finally streak out of the field.
"Good. Now let's get the h*** out of here!" Kelly yells.
"I agree. Ready for light speed?" Han says, directing his question at Chewie. Chewie flips a final switch.
"Alright. 1, 2, 3!" Han says before pulling the throttles. However, once again, the engine just sputters and stalls.
"It's not fair," Han mutters.
Another laser blast rocks the ship as Han says, "Transfer circuits aren't working! It's not my fault!"
"No light speed?" Leia asks sarcastically.
"It's not my fault," Han repeats.
More blasts rock the ship. 3PO says, "Sir, we've just lost the main rear deflector shield. One more direct hit on the back quarter and we're done for."
"Turn her around!" Han says to Chewie as he stands up.
Chewie growls in protest. As Han mvoes between different controls, he yells, "I said turn her around! I'm going to put all power in the front shield!"
"You're going to attack them?!" Leia asks incredulously.
"Sir, the odds of surviving a direct assault on an Imperial Star-" 3PO starts to say.
"Shut up, 3PO!" Kelly yells, really getting annoyed at the droid.
Han turns the ship around and flies directly at the Avenger, flying right towards the bridge. Han flies it right past the bridge, just feet away, and flies directly over the massive tower. He then yanks the ship around, attaching it to the back of the main tower, and deactivating all systems.
"Alright. Let's hope this works," Han says.
Captain Needa collapses to the floor on his knees, clutching at his throat. He looks up at Vader before collapsing completely, dead. Vader walks past his body as he says, "Apology accepted, Captain Needa." He then motions with his hand, and two enlisted men hurry forward to take Needa's body away.
Vader walks over to where Piett is now standing. "Lord Vader, our ships have completed their scan of the area and found nothing. If the Millenium Falcon went into light speed, it'll be halfway across the galaxy by now," he says.
"What is the position of the Terran ships?" Vader asks.
"They were holding their previous position, but we now have confirmation they are moving in our direction. We believe they are moving to re-engage us," Piett says.
"Alert all commands. Calculate every possible destination of the Millenium Falcon along their last known trajectory. And keep us out of the range of the Terran ships until we are ready for our jump to lightspeed," Vader orders.
"Yes, my lord. We'll find them" Piett says.
"Don't fail me again, Admiral," Vader says before walking away.
"Alert all commands. Deploy the fleet. And keep me updated on the position of the Terran warships," Piett orders.
Meanwhile, on the Falcon, everyone is watching the remaining ships of Death Squadron moving about. 3PO has had enough and says, "Captain Solo, this time you have gone too far!"
Chewie howls at 3PO. "No, I will not be quiet, Chewbacca. Why doesn't anyone listen to me?" the droid replies.
"Because you're dumb!" Kelly says, smirking a bit at finally telling the droid off.
"Pardon me!" 3PO exclaims.
"Look, the fleet's beginning to break up," Han says. He then turns to Chewie and says, Go back and stand by the manual release for the landing claw.
"I really don't see how that is going to help. Surrender is a perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances. The Empire-" 3PO says, but Kelly, having had enough of the droid, flips his power switch and shuts him off.
"Not for me, its not," Kelly says.
"Thank you," Han says gratefully.
"Well, what's your next move?" Leia asks Han.
"Well, if they follow standard Imperial procedure, they'll dump their garbage before they go to light speed, and then we just float away," Han says.
"With the rest of the garbage," Leia finishes with a small smile.
"Wow, I feel so loved, Leia," Kelly says sarcastically, making Leia smile.
"Then what?" Leia asks Han.
Han leans forward and turns on one of his displays. "Then we got to find a safe port somewhere around here. Any ideas?" he asks.
"Where are we?" Leia asks.
"The Anoat system," Han says.
"Anoat system? There's not much there," Leia says.
"We could call for a Terran task force," Kelly says, not yet aware that the Hood is not far away.
"That would give us away," Han says. He flips through the list of displayed on his screen a bit more, then says, "No. Wait. This is interesting. Lando."
"The Lando system?" Leia asks in confusion
"Lando's not a system. He's a man. Lando Calrissian. He's a cardplayher, gambler, scoundrel. You'd like him," Han says.
"Thanks," Leia says in a tired tone.
"Bespin. It's pretty far, but I think we can make it," Han says.
"Bespin? It'll take us weeks to get there," Kelly says in protest.
"We don't exactly have a better option," Han says. Kelly grumbles, but admits he has a point.
"A mining colony?" Leia asks.
"Yeah, a tibanna gas mine. Lando conned somebody out of it. We go back a long way, Lando and me," Han says.
"Do you trust him?" Leia asks.
"No. But he's got no love for the Empire, I'll tell you that," Han says.
Kelly wants to protest again. But, before she can, she feels the ship shake a bit. Han feels it too and calls back to Chewie, "Here we go, Chewie. Stand by. Detach."
Chewie releases the landing claw. The ship slowly begins to float away among the garbage that the Avenger is dumping out.
"You have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have 'em," Leia says, planting a small kiss on Han's cheek.
The three of them watch the Star Destroyer until finally it jumps to hyperspace. Then, Han powers up the ship and the engines, and turns the ship around to assume a course for Bespin. They fly out of the midst of the garbage, heading for distant Bespin, unaware that not far behind them, Boba Fett is tracking them in his ship.
As they fly away, aboard the Hood, Vice Admiral Montgomery watches on his screen as the last of Death Squadron's ship jumps to hyperspace. The fight outside the asteroid field had been tough. All of his ships had suffered damage, and the Adjudicator was already on its way back to Terra for repairs. However, they had damaged several Imperial ships, and actually managed to destroy the Stalker. However, now he's concerned why Death Squadron has scattered through hyperspace.
"Alert the Admiralty, and the headquarters on Naboo. Let them know that Death Squadron has scattered through hyperspace, and we still have no sign of the Millenium Falcon," Montgomery orders.
"Yes, sir," a Venezuelan officer says.
Montgomery looks back out of the viewport, wondering what his next move will be.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked that chapter.
So, there's a lot of debate about the time that passed in Empire Strikes Back, given that Luke was clearly on Dagobah for more than just a few days given how much he had to have learned, and the fact that Han travelled from Hoth to Bespin purely at sublight speeds. While I'm not going to get too much into that debate, I'm just going to see that the whole time between Han leaving Hoth and arriving on Bespin will be at least a few weeks.
So, as I showed in this chapter, the one Star Destroyer I showed defecting in Chapter 24 is clearly not the only to do so. I'll specify that, in terms of ships, 13 ships of the Empire have so far defected to the Terran Alliance. Not just Star Destroyers, but also smaller cruisers and transport ships.
Alright. Next chapter will begin with their arrival on Bespin. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned.