Perhaps this short post will get things going again...what else can I say?
Thanks to anyone who bothers to read this after so much time!
Sunnari felt something. The ship seemed to move. Not like an asteroid impact. It was a far more subtle movement and steady. A few seconds later, she heard something as well to accompany the vibrations that were getting stronger. Her heart raced as she realized what this meant. The distress signal that Trevarin reluctantly activated had been picked up someone, and in this instant, she didn't care who had found them. She would rather take her chances with an Imperial boarding than spend any more of her life on this ship with Trevarin. Her hand shook as the activated the door panel to the main lounge. On the other side of the cabin Sunnari could now determine the sound was emanating from the starboard docking port. She could see the outline of the laser torch that was beginning to break through the hull. Then she saw the look of fear on Travarin's face.
His cheek twitched, but other than this, he made no movement. He looked as if the life had been drained out of him. He knew he had no place to hide. And he did not know who was boarding the ship, but he did know that the outcome of all of this would not be in his favor.
"Looks like pirates. They may kill us, you know." As he spoke the words, it seemed to prompt him to move. He crossed the room and opened a storage compartment. He took the largest laser rifle he could carry, got down on his knees and waited.
Han hated boarding ships this way. There were so many things that could happen. The fact that this ship was supposed to be empty, and obviously wasn't, made Han more nervous than usual. As neared the final cut to gain access to Another Chance, he waited for Chewie to back him up.
Leia stood on the terrace alone and gazed up, waiting for the stars to make themselves known. She had already looked up the star chart for this system while on the Falcon. She stood there and waited for Alderaan's faint light. She stood there alone for a long time before she suddenly became cold. Before the realization hit hard. Alderaan wasn't there. In this sector of the galaxy Alderaan was truly gone.
Leia decided in that moment, she would never look for Alderaan again. Her next thought was to hope than Han would be back soon. Leia just wanted to get back to the base; back to closing herself off from everyone. She hated herself for even contemplating the thought of wasting her time with a frivolous relationship, when she had to focus all of her energy into the fall of the Empire.
The heartbreak of losing Alderaan resurged stronger than ever. She had no energy to waste on a broken heart over Han. And she knew that would be the only outcome if she allowed him to get too close. She had to let him go. She would will herself to let him go.
The first strike came without any warning. The confusion of the unfolding events left the base startled, shocked; they were not prepared for a battle. And this was not a part of the war game simulation. This was real.
Luke's squad was alerted by the sound of sirens. As he crossed through the base to get to the hanger, shards of metal rained down on his head. The dust and debris made it continually harder to breathe. Troops passed by him with guns drawn. He wondered momentarily how many there were. Their armaments must not be that strong, or they would have simply blasted the base into oblivion before anyone knew they were there; the opportunity was there. Whoever the intruders were must not have been capable for that kind of destruction.
The hanger crew worked frantically to get the x-wings and land speeders in the air.