Star Wars: Remix version
Chapter Twenty three: Can we do it?
"Rebel base, three minutes and closing" A voice over the intercom aid.
Red Leader looked over at his wingmen.
"Red Group, this is Red Leader" He said. "Rendezvous at mark six point one"
"This is Red Two. Flying toward you" Wedge responded.
"Red Three, standing by" Biggs replied.
"Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run" Padme instructed over the intercom.
"Copy, Base One. Luke, take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal...to start your run" Red Leader instructed.
"Rebel base, three minutes and closing" A voice over the intercom aid.
Red Leader looked over at his wingmen.
"Red Group, this is Red Leader" He said. "Rendezvous at mark six point one"
"This is Red Two. Flying toward you" Wedge responded.
"Red Three, standing by" Biggs replied.
"Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run" Padme instructed over the intercom.
"Copy, Base One. Luke, take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal...to start your run" Red Leader instructed.
The X-wing fighters of Luke, Biggs, and Wedge flew in formation high above the Death Star's surface. Luke peered out from his cockpit.
Two X-wings moved across the surface of the Death Star. Red Leader's X-wing dropped down to the surface leading to the exhaust port. Red Leader looked around to watch for the TIE fighters.
"This is it!" Red Leader announced.
Red Leader roamed down the trench of the Death Star as lasers streaked across the black heavens.
A huge remote-control laser cannon fired at the approaching Rebel fighters. The Rebel fighters evaded the Imperial laser blasts. Red Ten looked around for the Imperial fighters.
"We should be able to see it by now" Red Ten said over the headset. From the cockpits of the Rebel pilots, the surface of the Death Star streaked by, with Imperial laser fire shooting toward them.
"Keep your eyes open for those fighters!" Red Leader commanded.
"There's too much interference!" Red Ten told him. Three X-wing fighters moved in formation down the Death Star trench.
"Red Five, can you see them from where you are?" Red Ten asked. Luke looked down at the Death Star surface below.
"No sign of any..." He trailed off. "Wait!" He said suddenly. Red Ten looked up and saw the Imperial fighters. "Coming in point three five"
"I see them" Red Ten replied.
Three TIE fighters, Sky flanked by two wingmen, dove in a tight formation. The sun reflected off their dominate solar fins as they loped toward the Death Star's surface. Red Leader pulled his targeting device in front of his eyes and made several adjustments.
"I'm in range" He told the Red group. Red Leader's X-wing moved up the Death Star trench. "Target's coming up!" Red Leader looked at his computer target readout screen. He then looked into his targeting device. "Just hold them off for a few seconds"
Sky adjusted his control lever and dove on the X-wing fighters.
"Close up formation" He commanded. The three TIE fighters moved in formation across the Death Star surface.
Red Leader lined up his target on the targeting device cross hairs.
Sky and his wingmen zoomed down the trench.
Sky rapidly approached the two X-wings of Red Ten and Red Twelve. Sky's laser cannon flashed below the view of the front porthole. The X-wings showed in the center of Sky's computer screen. Red Twelve's X-wing fighter was hit by Sky's laser fire, and it exploded into flames against the trench. Red Ten worked at his controls furiously, trying to avoid Sky's fighter behind him.
"You'd better let her loose" Red Ten told Red Leader.
Red Leader was concentrating on his targeting device.
"Almost there!" He replied. Red Ten started to panic.
"I can't hold them!" He shouted.
Sky and his wingmen whipped through the trench in pursuit of the Rebel fighters. Sky coolly pushed the fire button on his control stick.
Dark Sky's well-aimed laser fire proved to be unavoidable, and struck Red Ten's ship. Red Ten screamed in anguish and pain. Red Ten's ship exploded and burst into flames. Grimly, Red Leader took careful aim and watched his computer
targeting device, which showed the target lined up in the cross hairs, and fired.
"It's away!" Red Leader announced.
An armed Imperial storm trooper was knocked to the floor from the attack explosion. Other troopers scurrying about the corridors were knocked against the wall and lost their balance.
Leia and the others stared at the computer screen.
"It's a hit!" Red Nine whooped.
"Negative" Red Leader replied. He looked back at the receding Death Star. Tiny
explosions were visible in the distance. "Negative!" He repeated. "It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface"
Dark Sky peeled off in pursuit as Red Leader's X-wing passed the Death Star horizon. Sky swung his ship around for the next kill.
"Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point oh-five; we'll cover for you" Luke said.
"Stay there" Red Leader replied nervously. "I just lost my starboard engine. Get set to make your attack run"
Sky's gloved hands made contact with the control sticks, and he pressed their firing buttons.
Red Leader fought to gain control of his ship.
Laser bolts were flung from Sky's TIE fighter, connecting with Red Leader's Rebel X-wing fighter, creating a tremendous explosion far below. He screamed and was
destroyed.
Luke looked out the window of his X-wing at the explosion far below. For the first time, he could feel the helplessness of his situation.
Grand Moff Tarkin cast a sinister eye at the computer screen.
"Rebel base, one minute and closing" The voice said over the loud speaker.
Padme, Princess Anna, and Leia, with Threepio beside them, listened intently to the talk between the pilots. The room was grim after Red Leader's death. Princess Anna nervously paced the room.
"Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle" Luke commanded, taking control of the situation.
"Right with you, boss" Wedge replied.
The two X-wings peeled off against a background of stars and dove toward the Death Star.
"Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?" Biggs asked, anxiously.
"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home" Luke said, disguising his fear.
The three X-wings moved in, unleashing a barrage of laser fire. Laser bolts were returned from the Death Star. Luke's lifelong friend struggled with his controls.
"We'll stay back far enough to cover you" he said. Flak and laser bolts flashed outside Luke's cockpit window.
"My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?" Wedge asked.
The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotated as it shot laser bolts.
Luke looked around for the Imperial TIE fighters. He thought for a moment and then moved his targeting device into position. "Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!"
Wedge looked excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters.
"What about the tower?" He asked.
"You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!" Luke commanded. Luke's X-wing streaked through the trench, firing lasers. He broke into a nervous sweat as the laser fire was returned, knicking one of his wings close to the engine.
"Artoo...that, that stabilizer's broken loose again! See if you can't lock it down!" Luke shouted to the little droid. Artoo worked to repair the damages. The canyon wall rushed by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious.
Two laser cannons were firing on the Rebel fighters. Wedge looked up and saw the TIE ships. Luke's targeting device marked off the distance to the target.
Sky and his wingmen zoomed closer. Sky adjusted his controls and fired laser bolts at two X-wings flying down the trench. He scored a direct hit on Wedge.
Anna and the others were grouped around the computer board.
"I'm hit! I can't stay with you" Wedge told Luke over the speaker.
"Get clear, Wedge" Luke replied. "You can't do any more good back there!"
"Sorry!" Wedge apologized. He pulled his crippled X-wing back away from the battle.
Sky watched the escape but issued a command to his wingmen. "Let him go! Stay on the leader!"
Luke's X-wing sped down the trench; the three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tailed close behind. Biggs looked around at the TIE fighters, worried.
"Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!" Biggs said.
The three TIE fighters moved ever closer, closing in on Luke and Biggs.
Luke looked back anxiously at little Artoo.
"Artoo, try and increase the power!" He commanded.
Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, a beeping Artoo-Detoo struggled to increase the power, his dome turning from side to side.
Stealthily, the TIE formation crept closer. Sky adjusted his control stick.
Biggs looked around at the TIE fighters.
Luke looked into his targeting device. He moved it away for a moment and pondered its use. He looked back into the computer targeter.
"Hurry up, Luke!" Biggs cried.
Sky and his wingmen raced through the Death Star trench. Biggs moved in to cover for Luke, but Sky gained on him.
Biggs saw the TIE fighter aiming at him.
"Wait!" Biggs cried.
Sky squeezed the fire button on his controls. Biggs' cockpit exploded around him, lighting him in red. His ship burst into a million flaming bits and scattered across the surface.
Luke was stunned by Biggs' death. His eyes were watering, but his anger was also growing.
Grand Moff Tarkin watched the projected target screen with satisfaction.
"Rebel base, thirty seconds and closing" The voice said.
Sky took aim on Luke and talked to the wingmen.
"I'm on the leader" He said.
Luke's ship streaked through the trench of the Death Star.
Princess Anna returned her general's worried and doubtful glances with solid, grim determination. Threepio seemed nervous.
"Hang on, Artoo!" He begged.
Luke concentrated on his targeting device.
Three TIE fighters charged away down the trench toward Luke.
Sky's finger's curled around the control stick.
Luke adjusted the lens of his targeting device. His ship charged down the trench. He lined up the yellow cross-hair lines of the targeting device's screen. He looked into the targeting device, then started at a voice he thought he'd never hear again.
"Use the Force, Luke" It was Ben's Death Star trench zoomed by. Luke looked up, then started to look back into the targeting device. He was having second thoughts.
"Let go, Luke" Ben's voice came again.
A grim determination swept across Luke's face as he closed his eyes and started to mumble Ben's training to himself.
Luke's fighter streaked through the trench.
"The Force is strong with this one!" Sky mumbled, feeling the power of the force. He followed Luke's X-wing down the trench.
Luke looked to the targeting device, then away as he heard Ben's voice again.
"Luke, trust me" Ben said.
Luke's hand reached for the control panel and pressed the button. The targeting device moved away.
"His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" Padme asked over the intercom.
"Nothing. I'm all right" Luke replied. Luke's ship streaked ever close to the exhaust port. He looked at the Death Star surface streaking by. Artoo-Detoo turned his head from side to side, beeping in anticipation.
The three TIE fighters, manned by Sky and his two wingmen, followed Luke's X-wing down the trench. Sky maneuvered his controls as he looked at his doomed target. He pressed the fire buttons on his control sticks. Laser fire shot toward Luke's X-wing fighter. A large burst of Sky's laser fire engulfed Artoo. The arms went limp on the smoking little droid as he makes a high-pitched sound. Luke looked frantically back over his shoulder at Artoo. Smoke billowed out around little Artoo and sparks began to fly.
"I've lost Artoo!" Luke cried. Artoo's beeping sounds died out.
Tarkin glared at the projected target screen.
"Rebel base, in range" The voice announced.
"You may fire when ready" Tarkin commanded.
"Commence primary ignition" The voice responded.
An officer reached up and pushed buttons on the control panel, as green lighted buttons turned to red.
The three TIE fighters zoomed down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Luke, never breaking formation. Luke looked anxiously at the exhaust port. Sky adjusted his control sticks, checking his projected targeting screen.
Luke's ship barreled down the trench.
Sky's targeting computer swung around into position. Sky took careful aim on Luke's X-wing fighter.
"I have you now" He said, grinning. He pushed the fire buttons.
The three TIE fighters moved in on Luke. As Sky's center fighter unleashed a volley of laser fire, one of the TIE ships at his side was hit and explodes into flame. The two remaining ships continued to move in.
Luke looked about, wondering whose laser fire destroyed Sky's wingman.
Sky was taken by surprise, and looked out from his cockpit.
"What?" He growled in frustration. Sky's other wingman searched around him trying to locate the unknown attacker.
Han and Chewbacca grinned from ear to ear. They had returned.
"Yahoo!" Han whooped. The Millennium Falcon headed right at the two TIE fighters. It was a collision course.
The wingman spotted the pirate ship coming at him and warned Sky.
"Look out!" He shouted. Sky's wingman panicked at the sight of the oncoming pirate starship and veered radically to one side, colliding with Sky's TIE fighter in the process. Sky's wingman crashed into the side wall of the trench and exploded. Sky's damaged ship spun out of the trench with a damaged wing. Sky's ship spun out of control with a bent solar fin, heading for deep space. Sky turned round and round in circles as his ship spun into space.
Solo's ship moved in toward the Death Star trench.
Solo, smiling, spoke to Luke over his headset mike.
"You're all clear, kid" Han spoke over the intercom.
Leia listened to Solo's transmission excitedly. He was back!
"Now let's blow this thing and go home!" Han announced.
Luke looked up and smiled. He concentrated on the exhaust port, then fired his laser torpedoes. Luke's torpedoes shot toward the port and seemed to simply
disappear into the surface and not explode. But the shots did find their mark and went into the exhaust port heading for the main reactor. Luke threw his head back in relief.
The X-wing fighters of Luke, Biggs, and Wedge flew in formation high above the Death Star's surface. Luke peered out from his cockpit.
Two X-wings moved across the surface of the Death Star. Red Leader's X-wing dropped down to the surface leading to the exhaust port. Red Leader looked around to watch for the TIE fighters.
"This is it!" Red Leader announced.
Red Leader roamed down the trench of the Death Star as lasers streaked across the black heavens.
A huge remote-control laser cannon fired at the approaching Rebel fighters. The Rebel fighters evaded the Imperial laser blasts. Red Ten looked around for the Imperial fighters.
"We should be able to see it by now" Red Ten said over the headset. From the cockpits of the Rebel pilots, the surface of the Death Star streaked by, with Imperial laser fire shooting toward them.
"Keep your eyes open for those fighters!" Red Leader commanded.
"There's too much interference!" Red Ten told him. Three X-wing fighters moved in formation down the Death Star trench.
"Red Five, can you see them from where you are?" Red Ten asked. Luke looked down at the Death Star surface below.
"No sign of any..." He trailed off. "Wait!" He said suddenly. Red Ten looked up and saw the Imperial fighters. "Coming in point three five"
"I see them" Red Ten replied.
Three TIE fighters, Sky flanked by two wingmen, dove in a tight formation. The sun reflected off their dominate solar fins as they loped toward the Death Star's surface. Red Leader pulled his targeting device in front of his eyes and made several adjustments.
"I'm in range" He told the Red group. Red Leader's X-wing moved up the Death Star trench. "Target's coming up!" Red Leader looked at his computer target readout screen. He then looked into his targeting device. "Just hold them off for a few seconds"
Sky adjusted his control lever and dove on the X-wing fighters.
"Close up formation" He commanded. The three TIE fighters moved in formation across the Death Star surface.
Red Leader lined up his target on the targeting device cross hairs.
Sky and his wingmen zoomed down the trench.
Sky rapidly approached the two X-wings of Red Ten and Red Twelve. Sky's laser cannon flashed below the view of the front porthole. The X-wings showed in the center of Sky's computer screen. Red Twelve's X-wing fighter was hit by Sky's laser fire, and it exploded into flames against the trench. Red Ten worked at his controls furiously, trying to avoid Sky's fighter behind him.
"You'd better let her loose" Red Ten told Red Leader.
Red Leader was concentrating on his targeting device.
"Almost there!" He replied. Red Ten started to panic.
"I can't hold them!" He shouted.
Sky and his wingmen whipped through the trench in pursuit of the Rebel fighters. Sky coolly pushed the fire button on his control stick.
Dark Sky's well-aimed laser fire proved to be unavoidable, and struck Red Ten's ship. Red Ten screamed in anguish and pain. Red Ten's ship exploded and burst into flames. Grimly, Red Leader took careful aim and watched his computer
targeting device, which showed the target lined up in the cross hairs, and fired.
"It's away!" Red Leader announced.
An armed Imperial storm trooper was knocked to the floor from the attack explosion. Other troopers scurrying about the corridors were knocked against the wall and lost their balance.
Leia and the others stared at the computer screen.
"It's a hit!" Red Nine whooped.
"Negative" Red Leader replied. He looked back at the receding Death Star. Tiny
explosions were visible in the distance. "Negative!" He repeated. "It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface"
Dark Sky peeled off in pursuit as Red Leader's X-wing passed the Death Star horizon. Sky swung his ship around for the next kill.
"Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point oh-five; we'll cover for you" Luke said.
"Stay there" Red Leader replied nervously. "I just lost my starboard engine. Get set to make your attack run"
Sky's gloved hands made contact with the control sticks, and he pressed their firing buttons.
Red Leader fought to gain control of his ship.
Laser bolts were flung from Sky's TIE fighter, connecting with Red Leader's Rebel X-wing fighter, creating a tremendous explosion far below. He screamed and was
destroyed.
Luke looked out the window of his X-wing at the explosion far below. For the first time, he could feel the helplessness of his situation.