Chapter 7: Alliance Assembly
With Han Solo back, Voyager set a course for the Alliance fleet and jumped to hyperspace. Luke took his X-wing which had returned to the fleet automatically after being rescued from Bespin, to Dagobah again to finish his Jedi training.
Voyager arrived and formed up with the fleet. Captain Janeway, Tom Paris and Tuvok beamed over to Home One, the Alliance's flagship under the command of Admiral Ackbar. As they beamed aboard they were met by an aide who took them to his office.
"Ah, Captain, good to see you again, I trust Captain Solo is recovering nicely." Said Ackbar
"Yes, he's still recovering in our medical bay the doctor was just about to release him before I left." She replied
"That's good to hear." He paused "I wanted you here early to look over our battle plans to see if you had any suggestions or comments you would like to make. From what I know of your Federation, they use different tactics than we do."
"Yes, mainly because we don't have the massive ships this galaxy does. Voyager could run circles around a Star Destroyer, no problem at all. From what I've seen of your plans it looks solid but I think it might be a good idea to have a plan B. Tuvok."
"Captain, Admiral, while the actual plan is sound, I agree that there should be some kind of backup plan, perhaps if you're ground team fails, Voyager could enter the atmosphere and destroy the generator with a barrage of photon torpedoes. Or any number of fighters could accomplish the same task. I also suggest that part of the main fleet drop out of hyperspace just outside the system, if the Imperial fleet shows up then we'll have a force that we can draw on and trap them."
"An intra-system jump is a tactic rarely used. But I will look into it nonetheless. I understand Mr. Paris wants to join the fighter attack?"
"Yes, we believe that his skills would be more valuable in a Delta Flyer-class fighter-shuttle than on Voyager. Those ships are as fast as the Millennium Falcon."
"Very well, we can give him the designator… Blue Leader."
"Thank you Admiral."
"The mission briefing will begin at 1700 hours."
"Yes sir."
"Dismissed."
At 1700 hours the senior staff of the alliance assemble in the small but comfortable briefing room on Home One. Mon Mothma stood up to speak.
"The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come. The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpointed the exact location of the Emperor's new battle-station. We also know the weapons systems on this Death Star are yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star. Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar please."
By now a hologram showing a moon and the station had appeared in the middle of the room.
"You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest moon of Endor. Although the weapons systems on this death star are not yet operational the death star does have a strong defense machenism. It is protected by an energy shield which is generated from the nearby forest moon of Endor. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor. General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack along with Lieutenant Paris of Voyager.
"Good luck" yelled Solo
They gave him a strange look "Your gonna need it." He said
"General Madine." Said Ackbar
"We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship and using a secret imperial code a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator."
There was murmering among the soldiers assembled. "Sounds dangerous." 3PO said to R2
"General Solo, is your strike team assembled?"
"Uhh, my team's ready but I don't have a command crew for the shuttle."
Chewie yelled.
"It was going to be rough pal I didn't want to speak for you."
Chewie growled again.
Solo smiled and turned to Madine "That's one."
"General, count me in." said Leia
From the comm. a voice came over it was Lieutenant Munro "General Solo, Hazard team requests permission to join the strike team and add one member to the command crew of the shuttle."
Solo smiled again "Permission granted Lieutenant"
"I'm with you too." Said another voice. It was Luke recently returned from Dagobah.
"There you have it general." Said Solo
"Very well then, there are some backup plans in place, some ships will drop out of hyperspace just inside the system in case the Imperial Fleet shows up. Voyager and its fighters are also standing by to destroy the generator from above if the strike team fails. The captains of the ships dropping out early will receive their assignments just before we all jump. If there is nothing else dismissed."