As Quiller sent the Gillia smoothly through the ice and snow atmospere of Hoth, Luke started sweating. What Ben told him about Leia was tearing him apart.
"Skywalker, you uhhh... Alright?" Grave looked at the young Jedi that was tapping his foot and pursing his lips.
After gazing in the distance for a minute, he looked at Grave.
"Never been better."
"Riiight."
Luke looked at Grave and gave a shut-up-or-I'll-hit-you look, and Grave snapped his mouth shut. Turning, he mumbled something inaudible, and slumped down in the copilot's seat.
Now it was Han's turn.
"Kid, your forehead is soaked in sweat. You sure your alright?" The smuggler's face showed true concern. Something Luke didn't see a lot from the old pirate.
"Yeah. Well, uhm, Han. I need you to come with me to Reiken's office when Quiller lands us." Luke shot a glance to Grave, and then looked at Han, who nodded. Luke nodded back, and then looked out the cockpit.
So much ice...
LaRone came from the back of the Suwantek, giving his shoulders a roll and his arms a limbering stretch.
"How in Hoth did you make a base here?"
He looked at the two Rebels they had aboard, and Han spoke before Luke.
"Talk to Her Worship when we land."
Luke winced at hearing a reference to his sister, and Marcross and Brightwater noticed.
"Think that he is worked up over that Princess?" Brightwater asked Marcross.
"Nahh, something is bugging him bad. Not just the fact he and Han both have feelings for her."
Brightwater gave a single nod, and then the ship shook.
"Son of a Sith! Ice storm hittin' us heavy!" Quiller boomed from the pilot's seat.
Luke punched his comm. button to Reiken's office.
"General, it's Skywalker here. I'm aboard a Suwantek TL-1800 with five other men and Captain Solo. I need permission to land and the opening of Echo Base doors. There's an ice storm out here, and the Gillia is getting hit hard."
Waiting for an answer, static came back, but through it he heard the confirmation of his request.
"Alright, Quiller. If you can navigate us to the big ice cave, then we are all clear. Doors are open and they're waiting on us."
Quiller nodded and steered the shuddering ship to Echo Base, and gently swung her down.
"Kriff, talk about a storm!"
He looked around, lowered the ramp, and shooed all the men down it. Closing it behind them, he looked around at the Rebel base.
"Where's Skywalker and Solo?"
"Ran off to some General's office," Marcross answered Quiller's question.
Soon, two pilots met the five deserter stormtroopers at their ship.
"Hello, men. I'm Wedge Antilles of Rougue Squadron. This is Wes Janson," he gestured to the man beside him. "He flies with me. And Luke is in the Rougues, too, wherever he ran off to."
LaRone stepped up.
"I'm Daric LaRone. Leader of The Hand of Judgment. This is Karlo Brightwater, our scout, Joak Quiller, the Hand's pilot, Taxtro Grave, the sniper, and Sabaren Marcross, Stor-. Just a trooper like myself. We do the planning and foot fighting."
Wedge nodded, and eyed the group. "We have heard of the deserters that run that group. You them?"
"Kriff." LaRone looked at his friends.
"Buuuusted," Brightwater said with a laugh. "Yes, Wedge, we are them. We fight for justice, like you. So please, spare us and don't alert Lord Vader. Please?"
Wes laughed. "Vader? HERE? You're insane! Like we would alert him if we had his most wanted culprit here, which we do. We wouldn't alert him for the life of us!"
Quiller and Marcross let go of the breath they'd been holding since Wedge made the connection, and Grave snorted.
"Welcome to Echo Base. Make yourselves comfortable. Do whatever you like. I will direct Luke and Solo back to you when they come back from Reiken's."
Wedge stepped out of their way, and sent Wes back to his X-Wing.