Author's note #1: Hello everyone; sorry about the long delay, but I decided that it would be better to get the reconstructing over and done with before releasing more chapters just so things are a little more consistent. Sorry that it took longer than expected but I got caught up in a lot of events and even had strokes of depression and anxiety. But don't worry; now that things are over and done with, I'll release the chapters gradually every three days.
Author's note #2: One last thing; K'Kruhk and Rachi Sitra will be replacing Tamu Opal and Jat Chai simply because I felt that already existing Jedi who survived the Great Jedi Purge would work better than ones I simply made up to get a real sense that there were very few Jedi left. Okay; that's the last retcon, no more changing things that have already happened. I know that the last few months have been difficult, but I just hope that we can put things aside and continue on to a bright and consistent future.
Shadows of Hoth
Shortly after the destruction of the dreaded Death Star, a fierce fleet of star destroyers led by Darth Vader onboard the Executor blockaded the fourth moon of Yavin and forced the Rebel Alliance to abandon the base! Since then, a new base that is set to replace it as the pivotal frontline for the Alliance's assaults has been under construction on the remote ice world of Hoth, a planet deep within the Outer Rim!
As the final stages of the base's construction are going underway, Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Han Solo go to inspect their new home…
Hoth
As the LAAT gunships flew down and landed on an icy plain near a large mountainside, Luke and Ahsoka got themselves out, wrapped up in cold weather gear to protect them from the icy winds and blizzard.
"That's it" said Luke whilst pointing over to a hanger that appeared to have been carved out of the slope "That's the new base"
"Seems quite an inhospitable place to an important outpost" said Ahsoka "Geez; even with all this gear on I'm feeling cold"
"It's not Tatooine, that's for sure" said Han.
"Why here?" asked Ahsoka "Aren't there plenty of tropical planets we could choose from?"
"Well; given the circumstances of this war, it's best if we place a stake in more inhospitable places" replied Luke.
"Yeah; plus, the Empire isn't interested in this place because it's out of their way and has no real resources and no major population" said Han as he stepped out, wearing a large blue parka "I mean, sure; there's Ortolans and Talz scattered in every so places, but they hardly counts as much as big places with big populations to manage. So they turn a blind eye" Chewbacca stepped out shivering and with his arms wrapped around himself with a snort. "I don't see why you're complaining; you're the one who's covered in fur, Chewie" Chewbacca groaned. At that moment, Corea stepped out dressed in full Mandalorian armor. "And you; you're armor covers every bit of yourself, including your face"
"You kidding?" said Corea whilst rubbing her hands over her helmet "I can't see a thing in this helmet 'cause it keeps frosting over"
"Then why not just take it off?" asked Han.
"And expose my face to the icy winds?" said Corea "No thank you"
"Oh; this is such a desolate place, R2" said C-3PO as he and R2-D2 stepped out "I don't see why Master Luke and Admiral Ackbar think this is a good place to put a base"
"3PO, we need somewhere to send assaults out on the Empire and it has to be somewhere barely populated so the Empire doesn't take notice" said Luke "It just so happens that this planet fit the bill" At that moment, several Alliance officers walked up over to them.
"Commander Skywalker; General Rieekan, I'm head of this operation" said the center officer "This is Major Bren Derlin and our chief communication officer Toryn Farr"
"Good to meet you, general" said Luke "How's construction going?"
"We're almost complete; but due to problems we've had with stability in the hanger, it's ill-advised to land in there just yet" replied Rieekan "That's why we're meeting out here"
"And when's the part where we actually go inside?" asked Corea.
"Right now, actually" said Derlin "Follow us, we'll explain everything else inside"
"That's quite a steep hill you got there" said Han "I mean, with the blizzard and all it might be a little difficult"
"Understood, Captain Solo" said Rieekan "Fortunately, we came prepared for such a situation. Bring out the Tauntauns" At that moment, a group of rebel troopers walked over with large wooly creatures that stood on two legs.
"What are these?" asked Ahsoka.
"They're tauntauns" replied Rieekan "Large reptomammals native to this planet; they're not very smart, but they're adapted to this environment and are easily domesticated. We use them as mounts since we're still trying to get our vehicles adapted to the cold. Hop on" Luke walked up to one and mounted himself on it with Ahsoka mounting the one next to it.
"Well; it's no speeder, that's for sure" said Ahsoka. As the two of them rode off towards the base, Han and Corea mounted another tauntaun with Chewbacca mounting the one next to them. Chewbacca sniffed his tauntaun and huffed.
"Wow, what another incredible smell you've discovered" said Han. They rode off towards the base and stopped in the hanger where various Alliance personnel and droids were doing maintenance work. As Luke and the others got off, a group of rebel troopers walked over to the tauntauns and took the tauntauns away by the reigns.
"Follow me, I'll take you to the command center" said Rieekan. Luke and Ahsoka followed him off down a corridor.
"Well…some base" said Han whilst pulling his parka down.
"Didn't they say it's not finished yet?" asked Corea as she pulled her helmet off.
"Well, yeah" replied Han "I mean; you don't just instantly create a base, especially on a planet like this" At that moment, a WED Treadwell repair droid accidently bumped into Chewbacca; who turned around and growled at it. "Woah, woah! Chewie, calm down; it didn't mean it. He turned towards the repair droid who beeped in response. "Um…my apologies, my companion is just a little grumpy because of the cold weather and such" The droid beeped again.
"Hmmm; my binary's a little rusty, but I think I was able to make out that he is WED-1015 droid" The droid beeped again. "Sorry; I meant 1016, but I think he also said that people just call him "Techie""
"Techie, huh?" said Han.
Meanwhile
"Oh, leave us out in the cold with a foot tall layer of snow!" said C-3PO "Sometimes I wonder if they just want me out of the way" R2 beeped. "I'm not whining, R2; I'm just concerned about my wellbeing. If I spend too much time in extreme conditions, it will cause permanent damage to my circuitry" R2 beeped again. "This no joke, R2; terrible things like this happen to any droid if left exposed to—" At that moment, he bumped into someone. "Oh my!"
"What is this?" said the person he had bumped into. C-3PO looked up he found himself face-to-face with another 3PO-series protocol droid who looked exactly like him except he had white plating with two red dots on the top right side of his torso.
"Excuse me, but who would you be?" asked C-3PO.
"I am K-3PO, human-cyborg relations" replied the protocol droid.
"K-3PO?" said C-3PO "What kind of name is that?"
"What is your name?" asked K-3PO.
"I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations" replied C-3PO.
"I see no reason why you should be offended, that name has no more logic to it than K-3PO" said K-3PO "Why do you pride yourself?"
"Well, at least I have better plating" said C-3PO "Who in the right mind would give their protocol droid such an ugly white?"
"Your shiny gold plating is not safe from flaws; only makes damage and dust more obvious and brings out the worst in it" said K-3PO.
"How dare you!" said C-3PO "Unlike you who is stuffed away in some base, I'm meant for more important missions involving democracy; which is why I have to look my best, thank you very much"
"Given the nature of this war; logically, the work I do here is more important than the work you do" said K-3PO
"Logically?" said C-3PO "Now look who's all entitled and prided—" At that moment, R2 slid between them and beeped. "I'm just trying to prove a point, R2; there's no need to get involved" R2 beeped again.
"I would listen to your astromech droid" said K-3PO "He says more logic than you have"
"Oh; let's just go, R2" said C-3PO "We'll continue this later"
"It would better for both of us if it wasn't" said K-3PO. As C-3PO and R2 walked off, they passed by Luke and Ahsoka who were discussing things with Rieekan and Toryn.
"Along with the communication systems, weapon systems are now online as well" said Farr "And within a few weeks, we should get the shield fully working as well; and when that's up, it'll be able to repel any bombardment or laser blast. All of this should come in handy if we're ever attacked and need to make a quick escape"
"Knowing the Empire, they'll throw everything they've got at us if they discover the base" said Luke.
"Which is why we're always on high alert, Commander Skywalker" said Rieekan "We don't want to lose another crucial base; everyone still remembers about what happened on Yavin 4"
"And that was more than enough" said Luke. As Ahsoka clutched her arms, she walked up to Toryn.
"I was just wondering, are quarters available yet?" asked Ahsoka.
"Sure" replied Toryn "Do you wish to go there now?" Ahsoka nodded. "Melluun" She turned to a Chadra-Fan who was tinkering with bits and pieces on a stool. "Melluun" The Chadra-Fan shot up and squeaked before hopping down and walking over to them. "This is Meluun, he knows his way around the base. Take Ahsoka to her designated quarters" Meluun squeaked, grabbed Ahsoka by the hand, and started pulling her off down the corridor.
"Quite a gentleman" said Ahsoka. As the two of them went off down the corridor, Luke followed them.
"Ahsoka" said Luke. There was no reply. "Ahsoka?"
"What is it, Skyguy?" asked Ahsoka.
"Are you alright?" asked Luke.
"Yeah, I am" replied Ahsoka "Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just you've been quieter than usual and I barely see you outside of Alliance business" replied Luke "I'm just worried"
"You don't have to be worried, Luke" said Ahsoka "It's nothing, just—" It was at that moment that they came across 2-1B who appeared to be operating on a dead tauntaun. "Well, that's not a pleasant sight"
"What are you doing with that tauntaun?" asked Luke.
"The Tauntaun is dead" replied 2-1B "I am performing autopsy on it"
"Do you know what happened to it?" asked Ahsoka.
"Unfortunately, it all leads to something very hostile; wampas, vicious ice creatures that are at the top of the Hoth food chain and feed upon tauntauns, among other things" replied 2-1B.
"Doesn't the base keep them out?" asked Luke.
"It's supposed to, but they are very adaptable and are able to get through almost anything" replied 2-1B "You need to remember, this planet has housed these creatures much, much longer before the galaxy ever discovered the planet; and without proper civilization, they've been able to grow in number unopposed. Currently, we're keeping tight security within the further in portions of the base. Now; if you'll excuse me, I have work to do" He went back to his autopsy
"Anyways, as I was saying; I'm fine, Luke" said Ahsoka "I just need a bit of rest"
"Ahsoka…" said Luke whilst reaching out and grabbing Ahsoka by the wrist "If you need to talk, you can always talk to me; you know that, right?"
"I know" replied Ahsoka. Meluun led her off further down the corridor. Luke couldn't help but heave a sigh.
Meanwhile
"Well, seems once again we're left with the same position" said Han "We go to some place and while Luke and the others are off busy doing some Alliance stuff, we're left here with nothing"
"Ever thought of getting involved with the Alliance a little more so you at least have some reason to attend those meetings?" said Corea.
"Yeah, and sit through some whole procedure on how things are supposed to work" said Han "I've been working with ships and technology for a long time now, I know how things work" Chewbacca grunted. "Well, at least it's not as cold in here as it is outside. I wouldn't be caught dead out there"
"I have a feeling few people have that choice" said Corea.
"Captain Solo" said Derlin as he walked up to Han.
"Yeah, what is it?" asked Han.
"We have a job for you, Captain Solo" replied Derlin "We send out regular tauntaun patrols to monitor any potential activity that could discover the base or be a threat to it"
"Like Imperials?" said Han.
"Perhaps" said Derlin "Do you accept?"
"Sure, beats anything else I've got going" replied Han.
"Meet us in hanger bay 7" said Derlin.
Meanwhile
Meluun brought Ahsoka to the doors to some quarters and squeaked whilst pointing at it.
"This is the one?" said Ahsoka. Meluun nodded his head and squeaked more. "Thank you" She opened the door and stepped inside. She took a good look around before slouching down against the wall. At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Come in" Luke entered. "Luke…"
"Ahsoka, I think we need to talk" said Luke.
"I'm fine, Luke" said Ahsoka "I just need some rest and some…alone time"
"Ahsoka, I know you too well" said Luke "Something's eating you, isn't it?"
"I said I'm fine, Luke" said Ahsoka "You don't have to worry"
"No, I am worrying" said Luke whilst kneeling down to her "It's about your family, isn't it?" Ahsoka remained silent. "Ahsoka, if you're uncomfortable talking about it now I understand; but you can't be like this forever—"
"I know, I understand" said Ahsoka "It's just…they lied to me, Luke; they're not my parents. My real father's dead and I'll never know who my mother is"
"Ahsoka, they're still you're family" said Luke "Besides, isn't the guilt they feel punishment enough?"
"Luke, I appreciate your concern; but I just need some space at the moment" said Ahsoka. Luke nodded and stood himself up.
"Just remember, you're going to have to approach them some time" said Luke.
"They're not my parents, period" said Ahsoka.
"My aunt and uncle weren't my parents either, but they were still family" said Luke. As he exited the room, Ahsoka felt a great pang of guilt and confusion over her. But it was very soon forgotten by a faint disturbance within the Force.
Meanwhile
Han saddled himself onto a tauntaun.
"Alright; the blizzard's easing up now, but our forecast's say that it should be returning soon" said Derlin "Regular patrols are one standard hour each, but come back if the temperate starts dropping towards the extreme"
"I'm sure it will be fine" said Han.
"I'm serious" said Derlin "Even tauntauns can't survive the lowest temperate of this planet"
"Got it" said Han.
"Good luck" said Derlin. As he left, Corea walked up to Han.
"Looks pretty windy out there" said Corea "You sure it's going to stay that way for long?"
"Corea, you don't have to use small talk to say you're concerned" said Han.
"I know, I know" said Corea. She activated her jetpack up to Han and pecked him on the mouth
"You know, quite a few people just had a clear view of that" said Han.
"Let 'em look" smirked Corea "And don't forget to get back here safe"
"Will do" said Han. He rode off out of the hanger and into the blizzard that lay ahead.
Meanwhile on the Executor
Darth Vader watched as Emerl Hatana trained against various holodroids disguised as Jedi.
"There!" said Hatana as she finished off the last holodroid and turning her lightsabers off "How's that?"
"Try it again" replied Vader.
"What?!" snapped Hatana "This was the fifth routine today; it's not even at my current level!"
"Try it again" said Vader. He turned to the door
"Why?!" snapped Hatana "It's been ages now, I haven't been on the frontline since you pulled me out. Tell me, why are you keeping me back here?" Vader turned to leave. "Don't walk off like that! Tell me; and give me a straight answer" Vader stopped and turned around.
"When I first brought you into this war, Emerl, I believed you to be ready; but given what I have witnessed of late, I see now that I was misguided"
"Mis…Misguided!?" snapped Hatana "Are you kidding me!? What are you even talking about?"
"Your decisions lately have been very poor and they have cost us dear" replied Vader.
"How?" asked Hatana.
"I knew what you were doing during the Oba Diah incident; while I was at the trial making sure everything went according to plan, you snuck off to Yavin 4 to find Ru-Thire" said Vader.
"How did you—" said Hatana.
"MOXAL kept a close eye on you the whole time" said Vader "He informed me of everything, including the Jedi who followed you straight to my Inquisitor. Why did you even go there; was it some desperate attempt to prove yourself or something else entirely?"
"I…I only went looking for him because I thought he could help us" replied Hatana.
"He was already helping me" said Vader "I had sent him there to find a Jedi Holocron that I had located; I didn't send a full party because I didn't wish the Emperor learning of it. If I had wanted him on the frontlines with us, I would have already informed him. Now, because of your actions; not only have I lost the holocron, but Ru-Thire as well"
"The Jedi were the ones who killed him" said Hatana.
"You lead them there" said Vader "All you achieved was destroying one of my greatest assets; Ru-Thire was fiercely loyal to me, and we need as many exclusively loyal to us if we wish to overthrow the Emperor"
"Why do you always make such a big deal of this?" said Hatana "He's just an old man in a robe"
"Do not underestimate the Emperor" said Vader "Darth Sidious is one of the most powerful Force-users in the galaxy, if not the strongest. One misstep and he'll have us both killed without a second thought"
"Like what, get some Imperial officer or stormtrooper to take us out?" smirked Hatana.
"You know all too well that there are many Force-sensitives in the Empire, many of whom are simply waiting for the right opportunity to take my place" said Vader "And it's not just them; generals, admirals, they all crave the position and power of Supreme Commander of Imperial military. You will continue your training until I deem it free of any faults" He turned to leave.
"I'll show you free of fault!" snapped Hatana. She ignited her lightsabers and leapt towards Vader, who turned around and ignited his lightsaber to block her attack. Hatana leapt back, force-gripped one of the training droids, and threw it at Vader who merely cut it in half. She leapt at Vader again to strike him but he merely force-pushed her away. As Hatana stood herself up, she shot out force-lightning which Vader merely blocked with his lightsaber. Hatana shot harder and harder but Vader slowly walked forward. As he approached her, she swung her lightsabers down which Vader blocked easily. He then force-pushed her back into a wall and summoned both her lightsabers to his hand. He ignited one of them along with his own and placed them towards her.
"Had this been the Emperor, you would be dead the moment you ignited your lightsaber" said Vader before turning the lightsabers off "This is why I put you through additional training routines now; because when we face the Emperor, it will take more than numbers on our side. We must be fully prepared to take him on"
"I…I understand" said Hatana as she bowed her head respectfully "What is thy bidding, my master?" Vader dropped both her lightsabers onto the floor in front of her.
"Continue training" said Vader "When I deem you ready to go back onto the frontlines, I will let you know" He turned and left. As he walked down the corridor, he began thinking about the day he had first brought Hatana into the Empire as his assassin, as well as secret apprentice. He had only recently lost his last Sith Apprentice, Galen Marek, to the very Emperor who he had planned to destroy. He knew that bringing on a new apprentice would only endanger himself further, even with the veil of assassin he had placed up to protect her; but in his own twisted way, he had wanted to fill a certain void that he had felt was lost to him. He had wanted someone to fill in the void of both an apprentice and a child figure, both things he had lost long ago. But the question remained; was he going to finally destroy his master this time, or would he have to lose yet another apprentice in a vain attempt that lead nowhere.
Meanwhile
As Han rode out on his tauntaun, he stopped and looked out at the landscape with a pair of electrobinoculars.
"Solo to Echo Base, there's nothing so far that seems…hostile" said Han into his comlink.
"Keep looking, but remember to come back soon" said Derlin out of his comlink "Don't take chances with the blizzard"
"Got it" said Han. At that moment, he heard a scuffle coming from a large rock. "Hang on!" He pulled out his blaster.
"What is it?" asked Derlin. Han jumped off his tauntaun.
"I heard something" replied Han. He aimed his blaster at the rock and slowly walked towards it. "Going to investigate"
"Solo, be careful" said Derlin "The creatures on this planet can be very hostile, especially wampas; those things can grow up to about three meters tall, their coats camouflage them against the Hoth landscape, and their strength is powerful enough to snap the neck of a tauntaun"
"Yes, I do know what a wampa is" said Han "Just let me handle this" He slowly and carefully approached the rock with great caution. Suddenly, a small ice scrabbler leapt out of the rock and scurried off. "Geez!"
"Solo, what happened?" said Derlin "Captain Solo, what just happened?"
"It's alright, just an ice scrabbler" replied Han.
"We've got plenty of those back at Echo Base" said Derlin.
"Right" said Han "I'll be on my way" He mounted his tauntaun again and rode off again; unaware that something watched him from the rocks and snarled.
Meanwhile
Two rebel troopers walked deep through the corridors of Echo Base. As they walked along, one of them almost shot their reflection in some ice on the wall.
"Careful, this part of the base can be quite unstable" said the other rebel trooper.
"I know, I got the whole briefing from Derlin" said the other rebel trooper.
"Just remember to take caution" said the first rebel trooper "We're supposed to note down any possible problems that should get fixed up"
"I got that at the briefing as well" said the second rebel trooper.
"Just stay on alert" said the first rebel trooper "You won't believe the things that are on this planet" At that moment, they arrived to a large crack in the ground up ahead.
"Well, that's something isn't it" said the second rebel "I wonder what's inside" He ran over to the crack and looked into it.
"Get away from that!" said the first rebel trooper "You don't know what's inside!" The second rebel trooper looked back up at him.
"There's nothing in there" said the second rebel trooper. At that moment, a large wooly, white arm with claws erupted from the crack and pulled him down into the crack screaming.
"NO!" said the first rebel trooper. He pulled out his blaster and aimed it at the crack as he slowly stepped away from it. "Derlin, I've found something. It's a crack in the ground, and I think—" At that moment, a pair of large yellow eyes opened up from the crack and something large lunged right out. "AHHHH!"
Meanwhile
"Hello?" said Derlin into his comlink "Hello? Oh no!" He turned to Corea and Chewbacca. "You two, I need a group of troopers assembled together and tell them to meet outside the tauntaun pen. Do you think you can do that?"
"Consider it done, major" said Corea whilst doing a mock salute. She and Chewbacca walked off.
Meanwhile
Vader enter a room where MOXAL projected a hologram of the Emperor.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" said Vader.
"Lord Vader, I have a request for you" said the Emperor "Over the past few months, my scientists have been developing a new formula"
"You're referring to the new microbionics serum?" said Vader.
"Yes, that is right" said the Emperor "If properly produced, the host could transform themselves at will. Think of it, an army of living weapons destroying everything in their path; neither the Rebellion nor the Jedi could stop them"
"I thought the serum was imperfect" said Vader.
"It was, but I have been given confirmation that they believe it to be improved upon such imperfection" said the Emperor "There is however one drawback; so far, the test subjects have died from exhaustion before they could be calmed down. They are clearly too weak; that is why I suspect a Force-sensitive to be better suited for it, we need only testing to be sure"
"Do you wish me to retrieve a Jedi for you, master?" asked Vader.
"No, such an action would be a little too complicated and unnecessary for my liking" replied the Emperor "Fortunately, there is a simpler route out of this"
"What are you implying?" asked Vader.
"Your assassin, Emerl Hatana, would be suitable for such a task" replied the Emperor "She is much, much easy to get to"
"My lord, are you sure this is wise?" asked Vader.
"Forming attachments, Vader?" said the Emperor.
"Not at all, I am merely pointing out that it is unnecessary" said Vader "What if it fails? Wouldn't she be much more useful to us alive?"
"I see no reason why you should fret about it" said the Emperor "Unless, of course, you have specific plans for her that I was not aware of? Plans on having her be more than just an assassin?" There was a short silence.
"When is the surgery scheduled?" asked Vader.
"The crew should be arriving to your ship shortly" replied the Emperor.
"I will incapacitate her for them" said Vader.
"Good" said the Emperor.
Meanwhile
Derlin, Corea, Chewbacca, and a group of rebel troopers walked through the hallway quietly.
"This is the last place we had contact from them" said Derlin "Keep your eyes peel for a large crack in the ground"
"Uh, I think I have a pretty healthy head start" said Corea. She pointed down the hallway at the crack in the ground, which now appeared to have been ripped wide open.
"Watch your step" said Derlin as they cautiously approached the crack "Whatever caused this could still be around" Chewbacca walked up close to the crack and sniffed it, before pointing at it and growling. "What is he saying?"
"He says that he smells rotting meat down there and…something else entirely" replied Corea.
"In that case, we have to take extra precaution" said Derlin "We'll set up the necessary equipment and then enter it to see where it leads" But as he was talking, a large hairy white ice creature with horns and claws rose up from the crack and swiped one of the rebel troopers out of the way.
"Watch out!" exclaimed a rebel trooper.
"Shoot it!" exclaimed Corea. The creature roared viciously and raised its claws again before all of them started shooting at it. Chewbacca roared viciously as he shot his bowcaster various times against its chest, which finished it off. The creature let out one last groan before collapsing and sliding back into the crack where it came from.
"There's no doubt about it" said Derlin "That was a wampa"
Meanwhile
Hatana entered a small room where Vader stood before her.
"You wanted to see me, master?" asked Hatana. Vader didn't reply. "What is it?" Vader looked over at a small needle full of liquid on a nearby table, force-gripped it, and carefully aimed it at Hatana. "What is it?" Vader struck the dart straight into her arm. She desperately pulled it out, but by then the liquid had already gone into her and was coursing through her. "Master…" She fell to her knees and fell unconscious.
"She is unconscious now, you can come in" said Vader. A pair of Imperial riot troopers stepped in, grabbed Hatana by the wrists, and pulled her out of the room. They brought her to a medical chamber where they placed her on a slab, locked her wrists and ankles up, and strapped her in. A group of surgeons stepped in. As Vader watched their work from the other end of a glass window, MOXAL walked up to him while projecting a hologram of the Emperor.
"Good work, Lord Vader" said the Emperor "And don't worry; if it fails, we'll just find you a replacement" Vader turned to the chief surgeon.
"Doctor, inform me if she survives" said Vader.
"Yes my lord" said the chief surgeon. Vader turned and left.
Meanwhile
Derlin, Corea, Chewbacca, and two rebel troopers had hooked themselves to cables which they had fixed to the ground.
"Watch those cables" said Derlin "They could be our only way back"
"Keep watch of the cables, got it" said Corea. They cautiously walked into the crack which led them to a large cavern-like ice tunnel. "Well, I guess here it goes" They cautiously walked in further.
"If we see anything that might be a wampa, run" said Derlin "And when you shoot at it, try to aim carefully; enough blaster fire and we'll all be buried, especially if with that bowcaster" Chewbacca huffed.
"Chewie's very fond of that thing" said Corea "Believe me; it's less problematic if we took both of them"
"Well, make sure you aim well" said Derlin. As they walked more and more through the tunnel, the temperate dropped tremendously.
"Brrr; can feel the cold even with my armor on" said Corea.
"We're underground and getting further and further away from the base's heating" said Derlin.
"I still don't see why we have to go in like this; why can't we just block off the entrance or something?" asked Corea.
"We have to find where this tunnel leads to the outside world so we can close off the entrance there and stop them from ever coming back in" said Derlin. As they walked in further, Chewbacca sniffed the air and scoffed.
"What is it, Chewie?" asked Corea. She pulled off her helmet and sniffed the air but immediately covered her nose in disgust. "EHHH; I guess we now know where that rotting meat smell came from. But where's the rotting meat itself?"
"I think I may know" said Derlin whilst shining a torch up at the ceiling. Corea and Chewbacca looked up to see two frozen disembodied feet stuck up there.
"By the City of Bone!" said Corea "Well, I guess we know what happened to those two troopers we lost contact with"
"This doesn't make any sense" said Derlin.
"They got pulled down here and eaten by that wampa, end of story" said Corea.
"Not that" said Derlin "It hasn't been too long since they disappeared, that wampa back there couldn't have eaten them both by now"
"Maybe he ripped one of them off and put them someplace else" said Corea.
"No, he wouldn't one of them once placed; not like this" said Derlin "Wampas keep their prey alive and as uninjured as they can acquire so they stay warm and don't freeze"
"Maybe he was just an extra hungry wampa" said Corea.
"Or maybe he wasn't alone" said Derlin "It is not uncommon for wampas to hunt in packs if it suits them" At that moment, there was a faint growl down one of the tunnels ahead. Corea placed her helmet back on and everyone aimed their blasters towards the tunnel. "We'll head back now" The five of them ran back to the crack and pulled themselves back up. The moment a louder roar came from the crack, Corea pulled out a thermal detonator.
"Chew on this!" said Corea.
"Wait, don't!" said Derlin. Corea threw the detonator straight into the crack where it went off and caved in the crack.
"Oh yeah!" said Corea "You're not getting a bite of this girl today, wooly!"
"That was very dangerous and—" said Derlin.
"And it got the job done" said Corea "Problem, no more wampas in through that way. And besides; if any of them survived, they'd probably take days to dig out. Within that time, we'd have a great advantage over them"
Meanwhile
As Han rode his tauntaun throughout the icy landscape, something looked down at him from the top of a pillar and snarled. Han stopped and looked around with his electrobinoculars.
"Well, I suppose that wraps up a simple reconnaissance" said Han "Well, better get back before it ices out here for me" As he was about to raise his comlink up, his tauntaun began to panic. "Woah, woah! Calm down, girl! What's wrong?" At that moment, a large pantran whitefang pounced down and knocked him right off the tauntaun and snarled. "Shoot!" He pulled out his blaster; and just as it leapt towards him, he shot it until it was dead. "Great!" He pulled himself back onto his tauntaun. "Better get out of here now" He rode off, unaware that three more whitefangs followed him. "Echo Base, this is Solo; do you read me?"
"What is it?" asked Derlin out of his comlink.
"Hey, I've finished my patrol and I'm on my way back now" said Han "But I have a slight problem, I think I just ran into one of the local wildlife"
"What was it?" asked Derlin.
"Why do you ask?" asked Han.
"Just tell me what it was" replied Derlin "Was it a wampa?"
"I think I would have known if it was a wampa" replied Han "No, it was some big white cat thing with a tuft on its tail. It leapt down at me, but I killed it"
"Oh no!" said Derlin "Are you riding your tauntaun now?"
"Of course I am" replied Han "Why?"
"Han, you have to go faster" said Derlin.
"Why?" asked Han.
"The thing you encountered is—" replied Derlin. Han heard a loud growl and turned to see the three other whitefangs chasing after him.
"Really fast?" said Han.
"What, how…what's happening?" asked Derlin.
"Turns out he had some friends he invited to dinner" replied Han.
"Solo, try to go faster" said Derlin "If these things catch you, you're dead"
"You think?" said Han "C'mon, let's go faster!" He rode off faster and faster but the whitefangs caught up to him and continuously swiped their claws towards him. "Oh; so that's the way you want to play, huh?!" He pulled his blaster out again and began shooting them, but they were too fast and avoided the shots easily. "Damn!" At that moment, one of the whitefangs leapt up and pulled him off. As Han rolled on the ground and pulled himself up, he looked over his tauntaun running. "You've got to be kidding me!" At that moment, the whitefangs turned towards him and approached him snarling. "Easy kitty! Believe me, you don't want—" As he stepped back, he accidently slipped into a crevice and fell down it. One of the whitefangs leapt forward and clawed down towards, only to find that he was out of reach.
Meanwhile
Two rebel troopers carefully guarded the rubble that blocked out the crack in the cooridor and watched it carefully. When a small pebble rolled off, one of them aimed their blaster at it.
"Careful, save it if there's something worth worrying about" said the other rebel trooper. At that moment, another pebble rolled off.
"Is it just me or is this starting to get quite intense?" asked the other rebel trooper.
"Relax, we're just here to report something if—" said the first rebel trooper shortly before the debris started pushing out.
"That isn't good" said the second rebel trooper. At that moment, the debris burst out and over a dozen wampas crawled out to attack them. The second rebel trooper shot continuously at them whilst the first one hid behind the corner.
"Major Derlin, we're under attack by wampas!" said the first rebel trooper "They've broken through and they're—" He was pulled away by the wampas.
Meanwhile
Ahsoka sat on her bed meditating. As she cleared her mind, she began to hear a familiar voice.
"Ahsoka…"
Ahsoka shook her head in irritation.
"Ahsoka…"
Ahsoka opened her eyes to see a familiar sight before her.
"Daughter, what is it?" asked Ahsoka.
"I have come with news, Ahsoka" replied the Daughter "The dark power is growing each day, I can feel it right now. But with lots and lots of meditation, I have finally triangulated its coordinates"
"Where is it?" asked Ahsoka.
"It is somewhere deep within the Outer Rim" replied the Daughter "That is all that I have found"
"Are you sure?" asked Ahsoka "I mean, that doesn't really narrow things down at all"
"I am sorry" replied the Daughter "There is only so much I can find from periods of meditation. I will dedicate my time from here on to meditate further and find out more; but it will take time, time that the dark power could use to increase"
"Then what are we supposed to do then?" asked Ahsoka "Just stand by and let the galaxy be destroyed? Surely there's something you can do about it, isn't there?"
"I am afraid that without a physical form I powerless, I have only just managed to find communication with you" replied the Daughter "But I have thought about it over and over again, and there might be a way. Our connection has been intriguing me further; just give me a little more time and I might find to use this connection to merge us together"
"Merge?" said Ahsoka.
"I would have control of your body along with my powers, thus enabling me to fight this darkness" said the Daughter "But I'm not entirely sure of what else it could do; that is why I am wary"
"Then what are we going to do then?" asked Ahsoka.
"Give me time" replied the Daughter "I'll contact you when I think I've found something" She disappeared just before Luke entered in a hurry.
"Ahsoka, come on!" said Luke.
"What is it?" asked Ahsoka. Suddenly, the lights went out. "And does it have something to do with that?"
"They must have gotten to the power" said Luke.
"Who has?" asked Ahsoka.
"We're under attack" replied Luke.
"By what, Imperials?" asked Ahsoka.
"Not Imperials" replied Luke.
"Then what is it?" asked Ahsoka.
"C'mon, I'll explain on the way" replied Luke. She stood up and followed Luke out of the room and down the corridors.
"Not to spoil the surprise, but what exactly are we facing?" asked Ahsoka.
"Some ice creatures got into the base and they're causing lots of havoc" replied Luke.
"By some, do you actually mean—" asked Ahsoka. They reached the hanger bay where the wampas were swarming and the rebel troopers were fighting back.
"I mean a lot, yes" replied Luke.
"That's a lot of wampas" said Ahsoka "What are we going to do now?"
"We'll hold off" said Luke whilst igniting his lightsaber "Right now, it looks like it's just us and those things"
"Right" said Ahsoka whilst igniting her lightsaber "It's going to be a long evening"