Star Wars: Remix version
Chapter Twenty nine: Escape from Hoth
Large chunks of ice tumbled into the command center as Leia, Padme, Anna and General Rieekan monitored computer screens.
"I don't think we can protect two transports at a time" Rieekan mused.
"It's risky, but we can't hold out much longer. We have no choice" Anna pointed out.
"Launch patrols" Rieekan said into the comlink.
"Evacuate remaining ground staff' Padme said, turning to one of the aides.
Muffled distant explosions created widening cracks in the ice roof of the hangar. Trying to ignore the noise and falling bits of snow, Han worked on one of the Falcon's lifters while Chewie worked on one of the wings. Noticing Chewie attach a wrong part, Han grew impatient.
"No, no! No! This one goes there, that one goes there. Right?" He said, obviously irritated.
The fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth raged on. The Imperial walkers continued their slow, steady assault on the Rebel base, firing lasers as they lumbered ever onward. In the snow trench, Rebel troops fired large bazookalike guns and dishlike ray guns as explosions erupted around them. A gun tower was hit by a laser bolt and instantly exploded. Another blast destroyed a ray gun.
General Veers studied various readouts on his control panel.
"All troops will debark for ground assault. Prepare to target the main generator" He said.
Luke's speeder and Rogue Two flew in formation, banking from right to left and flying above the erupting battlefield. Flak burst all around them. Luke, glancing over, saw Rogue Two on his left. His ship shuddered as flak burst nearby.
"Rogue Two, are you all right?" He asked. Zev's voice came over the comlink.
"Yeah. I'm with you, Rogue Leader"
"We'll set harpoons. I'll cover for you" Luke instructed. The two speeders raced across the horizon toward the giant walkers.
"Coming around" Zev announced
"Watch that cross fire, boys" Luke said into the comlink.
"Set for position three" Zeve said. "Steady" He told the gunner.
"Stay tight and low" Luke ordered.
Luke's speeder moved in formation with Rogue Two, when suddenly Zev's speeder was hit by a laser bolt. His ship bucked violently under the impact and the cockpit exploded in a ball of flame. Spewing smoke, the speeder hurtled toward a looming walker. Before they collided, Rogue Two exploded in a million flaming pieces. Desperately, Luke worked the controls of his flak-buffeted ship. Suddenly, the speeder was rocked by a huge explosion. Luke struggled with the controls with a look of terror on his face. The speeder filled with smoke, and electrical sparks jumped about the cockpit.
"Hobbie, I've been hit!" He cried.
Meanwhile, in the rebel base, Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, the corridor was strangely quiet and empty. Running footsteps echoed through the freezing hallway, then Han appeared. Cracks had appeared in some of the walls and some pipes had broken off, sending hot steam billowing into the underground hallways. Han hurried into the command center. It was in a shambles, but some people were still at their posts. As he entered, a gigantic cave-in almost obliterated the room. He found Leia, Padme, Anna and Threepio near one of the control boards.
"You all right?" Han asked, touching Leia's arm. She jerked a bit, surprised to see him, then nodded.
"I thought you were leaving" Anna said quietly.
"I heard the command center had been hit" Han said, "I wanted to make sure everyone was okay" Padme grimaced.
"You got your clearance to leave, Han. It's dangerous here" She said, worriedly. Han shook his head in exasperation.
"I'll leave. First I'm going to get you ladies to your ship" He said urgently. Threepio butted in as well.
"Your Highness, we must take this last transport. It's our only hope" The droid said.
"Send all troops in sector twelve to the south slope to protect the fighters" Anna told the controller. Han and Leia could tell that she wasn't ready to leave her post. A blast rocked the command center, throwing Leia backward into Han's arms.
"Imperial troops have entered the base" A voice said over the loudspeaker.
"Come on... that's it" Han said urgently.
"Give the evacuation code signal" Padme said quickly. "And get to your transports!" Han grabbed Leia's hand and Padme put her arm around Anna. The princess looked exhausted. As they ran out of the command center, the code signal could be heard echoing off the corridor walls.
"K-one-zero... all troops disengage" The controller said over the loudspeaker. Threepio trailed after the four humans.
"Oh! Wait for me!" He cried. With Threepio lagging behind, Han, Anna, Padme and Leia raced through the crumbling ice corridors. Suddenly, there was an explosion. Han turned, grabbed the princess, and pulled her to the wall as a tremendous cave-in blocked their path. Padme and Leia were uninjured. He took the comlink from his pocket.
"Transport, this is Solo. Better take off - I can't get to you. I'll get the princess and senator out on the Falcon" He said. They turned and raced in the opposite direction.
"But... but... but... where are you going? Uh... come back!" Threepio wailed, trailing after them.
Imperial troops had reached the base. As they pushed through the blocked passageway, Darth Sky strode in behind them. Han, Anna, Padme and Leia ran toward the entrance of the main hangar where the Millennium Falcon was docked. Threepio still lagged behind.
"Wait! Wait for me! Wait! Stop!" Threepio shouted. The door to the hangar closed in his face.
"How typical" Threepio muttered. Quickly, the door reopened as Han reached out and pulled the golden droid through.
"Come on" Han said in exasperation.
Chewie was pacing under the shelter of the Millennium Falcon's landing gear. The giant Wookiee patted the underbelly of his beloved ship and barked a few reassuring words. As he searched worriedly for his captain, something at last caught his eye. Chewie let out a relieved shriek at seeing Han and Leia running toward the ship, with Padme and Anna in tow. The Wookiee ran out into the falling ice, let out a howl, then ran up the ship's ramp. Han, Leia, Padme, and Anna ran up the ramp after him, closely followed by Threepio.
"Hurry up, goldenrod, or you're going to be a permanent resident!" Han snapped.
"Wait! Wait!" Threepio complained.
Imperial troops ran through the base corridors. Sky surveyed the place. A huge chunk fell, almost hitting him, but he calmly, purposefully, continued around it.
A distant, huge, explosion rocked the hangar deck. Ice cakes came crashing down on the Millennium Falcon.
Han, standing before a control panel, was busy flipping switches as Chewie watched a troublesome gauge. A worried Anna observed their efforts. Padme and Leia were in the passenger area of the ship, settling in.
"How's this?" Han asked. The Wookiee barked a negative reply.
"Would it helped if I got out and pushed?" Anna asked sarcastically, worry laced in her voice.
"It might" Han said curtly. Threepio clanked his way into the hold.
"Captain Solo, Captain Solo... sir, might I suggest that you..." han cut him off with a devastating look. "It can wait"
They moved to the cockpit where Han flipped some more switches. Anna watched him, impatient, disbelieving.
"This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade" She said, almost angrily.
"This baby's got a few surprises left in her, princess." Han snapped back. Han and Anna looked out the cockpit window and saw a squad of stormtroopers rushing into the far side of the hangar. Quickly, Han strapped himself into the pilot's seat and Anna into the navigator's chair.
Stormtroopers hurriedly set up a large bazookalike weapon. Behind them the giant hangar doors opened slowly. A laser gun appeared on the Falcon and swung around to aim at the Imperial troops. The stormtroopers, preparing to fire their bazooka cannon, were hit by the Falcon's fire and were thrown about in all directions. Chewie rushed into the cockpit.
"Come on! Come on! Switch over. Let's hope we don't have a burnout" Han muttered. A laser hit the window near Chewie as he was settling into his chair. Letting out a loud whelp, Chewie quickly pulled back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire was heard. Han flashed a big grin at Anna.
"See?" He said. Anna sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Someday you're going to be wrong, and I hope I'm there to see it" She scowled. She didn't understand what Leia saw in the pilot, but he was arrogant, rude and a complete scoundrel. Han looked at Chewie.
"Punch it!" He ordered. The roar of the Falcon's main engines blasted out everything as the ice- cave wall rushed by outside the cockpit window.
More stormtroopers ran into the hangar, closely followed by Sky. Hearing the loud roar of the Millennium Falcon's engines, Sky looked toward the main hangar doors just in time to see the Falcon lift up and disappear outside the cave.
Luke and two other pilots, who had been forced out of thier planes during the battle, looked up as the Millennium Falcon raced above them, flying very close to the ground. The three pilots turned then, and trudged onward toward their X-wing fighters, each going to his own ship. All imperial walkers had been downed by Luke and his team. Luke waved farewell, then headed toward his own fighter. Artoo, seated on his cubbyhole, chirped an excited greeting as Luke climbed aboard the spacecraft.
"Artoo! Get her ready for takeoff" Luke ordered. From his ship, Luke saw Wedge in his own X-wing, preparing for takeoff.
"Good luck, Luke. See you at the rendezvous" Wedge said. Luke smiled and nodded at Wedge, then lowered himself into the cockpit of his X-wing while Artoo waited in the cubbyhole, beeping impatiently.
"Don't worry, Artoo. We're going, we're going" Luke said with a laugh. The canopy over the X-wing lowered and snapped shut. Luke's fighter, its wings closed, sped away from the icy planet. Soon it disappeared into the stars.