Leia Organa leaned against a small window in a side hallway in her royal command ship. She had a grand view of the gathering fleet from her quarters but she decided to stay on this side of the ship once the Millennium Falcon and Luke's X-Wing went overdue. This was where she would see any ships jump in from hyperspace. This was also where she would stay to hide from the generals who kept trying to get her opinion on how long to wait for late arrivals, and when to get the fleet underway to the next location. She knew they were vulnerable here, exposed to any large attacks the Empire would surely be mounting.
They had taken great pains to make sure this rendezvous location was kept secret, but anyone captured by the Empire would leave them at risk. The boldness of the last attack almost guaranteed that some of the dozen or so ships that are overdue would have been captured. It was only a matter of time until the Empire made its way here, and she knew it. Her thoughts drifted towards the Falcon. Where were they? Didn't Han make it out? She had no sensor data available after the attack and the escape. She thought Han was long gone when the Imperial bombers showed up, but now she wasn't so sure.
There was also the other, and in some ways more disturbing idea. Han simply took off. He had his small treasure. He had a bounty on his head, and it would be understandable if he went to take care of it. But before he left he clearly said to her that he was not going to do that, he would instead meet at the rendezvous point and make sure the rebels made it to a new base and got settled before he took off. She took him at his word, and so she waited.
At the far end of the dimly lit hallway an automatic door slid open with a loud whooshing sound. In walked C3-PO with his metal skin filling the long hallway with golden reflections from the lights above.
"Oh, here she is. I thought she went this way. Here she is, sir," he said as he turned and stepped aside.
An elderly gentlemen in a light tan military uniform passed Threepio and made his way down the narrow hallway and stood next to the princess.
"Hello general", Leia said to him with a faint smile.
"Princess, the fleet is ready for the next step. There are no more ships arriving. We must move forward to avoid detection," the old general said in a respectful tone.
"I know, general," the princess replied. "Have the rest of the council agreed?"
"Yes."
"Than so do I." She paused for a moment and took a breath as she straightened her posture. "You may begin the departure," she said calmly as she turned and gazed out of the small porthole.
The general walked off slowly without another word. Threepio made his way over to where the princess was standing.
"I beg your pardon Princess Leia, but did you happen to see if the R2 unit who was traveling with Master Skywalker, that is R2-D2, if he has arrived yet?"
"No, sorry. He has not," Leia replied.
"Oh, I see," Threepio said as he wandered by another window himself to look out towards the myriad of stars.
Leia did not move from her spot. A look of sadness slowly grew upon her face and stayed there as the engines of her ship could loudly be heard spinning up. She looked back at C3-PO. Suddenly her face lit up. She had an idea.