Star Wars: Remix version
Chapter Forty-Six: Plans
The vast Rebel Fleet stretched as far as the eye can see. Overhead a dozen small Corellian battleships flew in formation. Fighters and battlecruisers surrounded the largest of the Rebel Star Cruisers. Hundreds of Rebel commanders of all races and forms were assembled in the War Room. In the center of the room was a holographic model depicting the half-completed Imperial Death Star, the nearby Moon of Endor, and the protecting deflector shield.
Padme, the leader of the Alliance, entered the room. Conferring with her were several military leaders, including Generald Madine and Admiral Ackbar. Lando moved through the crowd until he found Han and Chewie, standing next to Leia, Anna, Oola and the two droids. Han peered at Lando's new insignia on his chest, and was amused.
"Well, look at you, a general, huh?" Han asked, grinning at his friend.
"Oh, well, someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab" Lando said cheekily.
"Well, don't look at me, pal. I just said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they were lookin' for somebody to lead this crazy attack" Han said, holding up his hands. Land smirked.
"I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it" He said. Han didn't reveal what his mission was. He merely said,
"Well, who says they didn't. But I ain't crazy. You're the respectable one, remember?" The two friends shared a laugh until Padme signaled for a ttention and the rooms fell silent. She was standing with Mon Mothma, another important leader in the alliance. Mon Mothma began speaking.
"The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come" She said. This caused a stir amonge. Mon Mothma turned to a holographic model of the Death Star, the Endor moon and the protecting deflector shield in the center of the room.
"The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected" She paused and Padme took over the briefing.
"Most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star" She informed the crowd. A volley of spirited chatter erupted from the crowd. "Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar, please"
Admiral Ackbar stepped forward and pointed to the Death Star's force field and the Moon of Endor.
"You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby forest Moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. 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" Ackbar explained. "General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack" Han turned to his friend.
"Good luck" He said sincerely. Lando nodded his thanks.
"General Madine" Ackbar motioned. Madine moved center stage.
"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" Madine informed them.
"Sounds dangerous" Oola said nervously.
"I wonder who they found to pull that off" Leia whispered in Han's ear. He didn't look at her.
"General Solo, is your strike team assembled?" Madine asked. Leia, startled, looked up at Han, surprise changing to admiration.
"Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle" Han informed the general. Chewbacca raised his hairy paw and volunteered. Han looked up at him.
"Well, it's gonna be rough, pal. I didn't want to speak for you" Han told the wookie. Chewie waved that off with a huge growl. Han smiled.
"That's one" He said. Anna nudged Leia who turned to Han.
"Uh, General... count us in" Han looked at Anna and Oola who both nodded in agreement.
"I'm with you, too!" They turned in that direction and peered into the crowd as there were more cheers. The commanders parted, and there at the back stood Luke. Han and Leia were surprised and delighted. Leia went to embrace her brother, but she sensed a change in him.
"What is it?" She asked. Luke was hesitant. Now was not the time or place to tell her that he had to kill Sky.
"Ask me again sometime" He told her. Leia knew better than to push her brother, so she let it go.
"Luke" Han said, grasping Luke's forearm. Luke smiled.
"Hi, Han... Chewie" He turned to Anna and Oola. "Ladies" He smiled charmingly and Anna nearly melted. She really liked the farm boy, even though he was a few years older than her.
Artoo beeped a singsong observation to a worried Threepio.
"Exciting is hardly the word I would use" Threepio snapped.
The Millennium Falcon rested beyond the stolen Imperial shuttle, which looks anomalous among all the Rebel ships in the vast docking bay. Chewie barked a final farewell to Lando and lead Artoo and Threepio up the shuttle, crowded now with the Rebel strike team loading weapons and supplies. Lando turned to face Han. Luke and Leia have said their good-byes and started up the ramp.
"Look. I want you to take her. I mean it. Take her. You need all the help you can get. She's the fastest ship in the fleet" Han was saying.
"All right, old buddy. You know, I know what she means to you. I'll take good care of her. She-she won't get a scratch. All right?" Lando promised. Han looked at his ship and then back at Lando.
"Right. I got your promise now. Not a scratch" He raised a finger and Lando laughed.
"Look, would you get going, you pirate" The two men exchanged salutes and took off in different directions.
Luke was working on a back control panel as Han came in and took the pilot's seat. Chewie, in the seat next to him, was trying to figure out all the Imperial controls.
"You got her warmed?" Han asked.
"Yeah, she's comin' up" Luke replied. Chewie growled a complaint.
"No. I don't think the Empire had Wookiees in mind when they designed her, Chewie" Han replied. The girls came in from the hold and took thier seats.
Chewie barked and hit some switches. Han's glance had stuck on something out the window: the Millennium Falcon. Leia nudged him gently.
"Hey, are you awake?" She asked
"Yeah, I just got a funny feeling. Like I'm not gonna see her again" Han said wistfully. Chewie, hearing this, stopped his activity and looked longingly out at the Falcon, too. Leia place a hand on Han's shoulder.
"Come on, General, let's move" She said softly. Han snapped back to life.
"Right. Chewie, let's see what this piece of junk can do. Ready, everybody?" He asked.
"All set" Oola said from her seat. She was excited to be on such a mission with her new friends.
"Here we go again" Anna said, sitting back, wondering where thier journey would lead...triumph or defeat.
"All right, hang on" Han said.
The stolen Imperial shuttle left the main docking bay of the Headquarters Frigate, lowered its wings into flight position, and zoomed off into space.
The converted control room is dimly lit, except for a pool of light at the far end. There the Emperor sat in an elaborate control chair before a large window which looked out across the half-completed Death Star to the giant green moon of Endor.
Darth Sky, standing with other members of the Imperial council, cautiously approached his master. The ruler's back wass to Sky. After several tense moments, the Emperor's chair rotated around to face him.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" He asked.
"Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for" Palpatine said.
"What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?" Sky asked.
"It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed and young Skywalker will be one of us! Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders" Palapatine ordered.
"Yes, my Master" Sky said, bowing low. He turned and exited the throne room as the Emperor walked toward the waiting council members.
There wass a great deal of Imperial traffic in the area as construction proceeded on the Death Star. Transports, TIE fighters, and a few Star Destroyers moved about.
Han looks back at his companions as Chewie flipped several switches. Through the viewscreen, the Death Star and the huge Super Star Destroyer could be seen.
"If they don't go for this, we're gonna have to get outta here pretty quick, Chewie" Han said tightly. Chewie growled his agreement.
"We have you on our screen now. Please identify" A radioed voice spoke.
"Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector shield" Han replied.
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage" The voice told him.
"Transmission commencing" Han replied. Leia and Chewbacca listened tensely as the sound of a high speed transmission began. Oola and Leia glanced at each other nervously.
"Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid" Anna muttered.
"It'll work. It'll work" Han said, trying to reassure the women. Chewie whined nervously. Luke stared at the Huge Super Star Destroyer that loomed ever larger before them.
"Sky's on that ship" He said suddenly. Han paused. He could feel it too. A presence that he hadn't felt since the day Ray had killed all of his friends and he alone managed to escape. He didn't want to worry the woman though.
"Now don't get jittery, Luke. There are a lot of command ships. Keep your distance though, Chewie, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance" Han said, trying to shug of the nagging feeling that Sky was indeed on the ship ahead of them. Chewie barked a question. "I don't know. Fly casual"
"I'm endangering the mission. I shouldn't have come" Luke said worriedly.
"Don't worry on it too much, kid" Han told the younger man. "Let's keep a little optimism here" He jerked his head, trying to convey to Luke to stay calm for the sake of the women. Luke got the message and remained quiet. Chewie barked his worries as the Super Star Destroyer grew larger out the window.
Lord Sky stood, on the deck of the ship, staring out a window at the Death Star. Now, some vibration felt only by him caused him to turn. After a moment of stillness, he walked down the row of controllers to where Admiral Piett was leaning over the tracking screen of a controller. Piett straightenws at Sky's approach.
"Where is that shuttle going?" Sky asked, pointing to the ship out the window.
"Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?" Piett asked.
"Parts and technical crew for the forest moon" Han replied as smoothly as he could.
The Bridge Commander looked to Sky for a reaction.
"Do they have a code clearance?" Sky asked.
"It's an older code, sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear them" Piett told the Dark Lord. Sky looks upward, as he sensed Luke's presence, and that of another Jedi as well.
"Shall I hold them?" Piett asked.
"No. Leave them to me. I will deal with them myself" Sky ordered. Piett was surprised.
"As you wish, my lord" He replied. "Carry on" He said, nodding at the controller, who switched on his comlink.
"They're not goin' for it, Chewie" Han said worriedly.
"Shuttle Tydirium, deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course" The controller said. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone but Luke, who looked worried. Chewie barked.
"Okay! I told you it was gonna work. No problem" Han whooped. But he was also worried. Now that he had tapped into the force again, Sky could probably sense that he had been released from the carbonite. If Sky was looking to eliminate him, he had another thing coming.
The stolen Imperial shuttle moved off toward the green Sanctuary Moon.