Spectre: I had been informed that the website has a glitch, so if you want to be updated by the fic, you'll have to use the app version.
Chapter 20: Preparations
"So, are we not going to talk about my son making out with the Princess?" Anakin said, shuddering. Padmé later recovered from her ordeal and was given a glass of water by Rex.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Master, I think she only did that as a means to spite to Han. Trying to make him jealous of sorts by kissing Luke."
"I can- I mean, of course. Obviously." He looked at Obi-Wan pleadingly for an explanation, who simply gave him an odd look.
Back at the base, Han and Chewie were continuing their repairs to theFalcon.This time, Han was on the ship with a soldering tool, while Chewie was in the cockpit. "Alright." Han called to his first mate as she finished working, "Give it a try."
Chewie flipped a few switches. "Okay, that's it. Try it... Off! Turn it off! Turn it off! Off!", Han yelled but it was too late, resulting in a small explosion and the ship to catch fire in Han's face.
"So much for a custom job", Anakin said rolling his eyes, unimpressed on how Han worked with his ship while the audience chuckled at the two smugglers.
Meanwhile, a fully healed Luke was getting into his orange flight suit and talking to one of the droids that had taken care of him in the bacta tank.
"Sir, it will take some time to evacuate the T-47s." the droid told him."Ah, skip the heavy equipment." He told it, "There's plenty of time to get the smaller modules on the transports."
"Take care, sir."
"Thanks."
Luke passed by the Falcon on his way to the speeders, now in full gear and his helmet under one arm. "Hey, Chewie?" he said to the much taller Wookie, who looked down at him. "Take care of yourself, okay?" he reached up and scratched the Wookie's head. He made to leave but was pulled into a hug by Chewie.
"Hey kid." Han said before turning back to a droid who was helping with the ship. "There's gotta be some reason for it. Check it at the other end." The droid squeaked an affirmative. "Wait a second." The droid squeaked again in frustration. "You alright?"
Luke saw the genuine concern in Han's eyes. "Yeah." He replied honestly. They stared at each other in a silent conversation for a moment before Han broke the silence.
"Be careful." he said.
Luke grinned. "You too."
"I will say it now, Han's gonna stay like he did", Shaak Ti called out, confident that the smuggler woudl help Luke.
"General, there's a fleet of Star Destroyers coming out of hyperspace in sector four." An operator in the control room called out.
"Reroute all power to the energy shield." He told the man before turning to his second in command. "We gotta hold them until all transports are away. Prepare for ground assault."
"Just as I thought." Depa muttered.
"Alright, we've seen space combat, so let's see what a ground battle looks like in this universe." Rex said, sitting up straight.
"Will prevail, who will be?" Yoda asked.
"As much as I wouldn't wan to, but my guess is on the Empire." Obi-Wan grimaced, "Insurgencies typically work best using guerilla tactics to force the other side to overextend."
"Theoretically speaking, that is correct." Plo Koon commented.
"But this isn't a guerilla battle. This is looking like a classic pitched battle, something that rebellions do not have a good track record with, just like to those of Ryloth."
Nearly a dozen Star Destroyers closed in on Hoth, with their massive flagship in the lead. Within, Vader sat cross-legged in a meditation pod. His pale and scarred head was visible for a moment before the medical droid installed his helmet.
The audience hissed upon seeing the lenght of Vader's wounds behind the mask, and they couldn't help but assume that his suit hid a monster beneath.
"Whatever battle he had fought, the end results weren't pretty", Rex said, a little irked at the wounds Vader had.
"Imagine those wounds were inflicted by Skywalker and of Kenobi at some point, I do. Had to mask those wounds from those around him, he did", Yoda added.
Later, his chamber opened when he felt someone entering his chambers, revealed to be General Veers.
"What is it, General?" he asked, somewhat miffed at being disturbed.
"My Lord, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed. ComScan has detected an energy field protecting an area of the sixth planet of the Hoth system. It is strong enough to withstand any bombardment."
"The Rebels are alerted to our presence." Vader realized. He could feel his anger growing. "Admiral Ozzel came out of light speed too close to the system."
"Even his indecisiveness hadn't changed after all these years", Kit Fisto chortled.
The General hesitated for a moment. "He- he felt surprise was wiser."
"He is as clumsy as he is stupid." Vader said, his anger showing only briefly before he reined it in.
"Hate to say it, but I'm with Vader at this one", Anakin reluctantly admitted.
"He shares our opinions as well", Plo Koon affirmed along with Master Fisto.
Veers was not the object of his ire. No need to take it out on him. "General, prepare your troops for a surface attack."
"Yes my Lord." He replied, relieved that he was leaving with his life. He had heard stories about how Vader treated failures under his command.
The chair Vader sat in turned around in place to face the video screen behind him meditation pod and contacted the bridge of her ship. The screen filled with static until the faces of Admiral Ozzel and Piett appeared.
"Lord Vader." Ozzel said, stepping up to make his report. "The fleet has moved out of light speed, and we're preparing to- " he immediately cut off when he felt his windpipe being crushed.
"From another ship?!", Caleb exclaimed, shivering at the sight.
"Powerful he had become. Unspeakable potential he has", Yoda said, observing the Dark Lord further.
"You have failed me for the last time, Admiral." Vader said through gritted teeth.
He kept up his hold on the man's throat, slowly increasing the pressure. "Captain Piett."
"Yes, my Lord?" Piett said, snapping to attention next to his dying superior.
"Make ready to land our troops beyond their energy field, and deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off the system. You are in command now, Admiral Piett." The last was said as Ozzel collapsed behind Piett, dead by Force Choke.
"Thank you, Lord Vader." he said, trying his best to maintain composure.
"Something tells me he is not looking forward for the promotion", Obi-Wan said, startled at the spiteful act Vader gave towards Ozzel.
"Can you blame him?", Kit Fisto interjected. Though he and Plo disliked the man, it was unnerving to see him die right before their eyes, and the battle hasn't even begun. "He knows what would happen to him should he fail Vader. His fear and of what had happened to Ozzel served as proof"
"That is one way of dealing with incompetent commanders." Luminara commented.
"I think Grievous and Dooku doing that if there are. Ventress is an example", Obi-Wan added.
"I want to add, but I can kind of see what you mean." Shaak Ti strained to say. "And that bothers me."
As the base was readying for the assault, Leia was briefing a group of pilots on the evacuation plan. She paced in the crook of an X-Wing's wing with the pilots gathered around her in a growing semi-circle.
"All troop carriers will assemble at the north entrance." She told them, "The heavy transport ships will leave as soon as they're loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy field can only be opened for a short period, so you'll have to stick close to your transports."
"Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?" one of the pilots asked in disbelief.
Leia took the interruption in stride, knowing that would be their reaction. "The ion cannon will fire several shots to ensure any enemy ships will be out of your path." She assured them, seeing the doubt lift from their faces somewhat. "Once you've gotten past the energy shield, proceed straight to the rendezvous point. Understood?" Affirmatives sounded off around her. "Good luck."
"She's not just a political leader, she proves to be a capable strategist...", Windu commented, impressed on her way of thinking.
"She's not some damsel in distress type of character. That's what I like about her", Ahsoka added, having admired the Princess since the first holovid.
A nearby NCO clapped his hands together. "Ok. Everybody, to your stations. Let's go!"
About a mile outside the base, the ground forces were putting what finishing touches they could on their make-shift fortifications, which mostly consisted of trenches in the snow with scattered heavy weapon emplacements and the odd artillery piece up and down the line. Against any force like them, they would stand a good chance, but they weren't dealing with an equivalent force. They were dealing with the Empire, a vastly superior force in all respects. They knew the best they could do was delay for as long as possible.
No one wanted to say it, but they had signed up for a suicide mission.
"I don't think this'll be a succesful defense", Anakin said with a sigh.
"Considering they are under-equipped outside space, I have to say yes", Saesee Tiin agreed.
The situation in the command center was tense. Everyone remained silent, all eyes on the General and Leia stood in the center of the room."Their primary target will be the power generators." The General said, "Prepare to open shield."A larger space cruiser shot up from the planet, escorted by a pair of X-Wings as per the plan, while a Star Destroyer moved into intercept position
.
"Whatever the cannon does, it had better be good." Rex muttered.
"Sir, rebel ships are coming into our sector." A junior officer on the ship told his captain."Good. Our first catch of the day." The captain replied firmly."Stand by, ion control." The operator sat before Leia and the General said before pausing. "Fire."
Outside the base, a massive round structure built into the side of the ice shelf fired several red bolts from the cannon sticking out of it. The bolts rocketed past the transport convoy directly at the Star Destroyer. The first bolt hit them amidships, while the second impacted on the bridge. The Star Destroyer began to list downward at the back as its engines died out, red electricity crackling over its surface as the convoy breezed past them.
"The plan makes sense now." Ahsoka said. "That ion cannon can disable the enemy ships, letting them make a run for it."
"And if the Empire want to avoid having their ships disabled, they have to break their formation." Plo Koon added. "Very impressive."
"The first transport is away." A voice said over the intercom, filling the hangar bay with cheers. Luke cheered internally as he climbed into his speeder. So far so good. Just a few more times and they would be golden.
"Feeling alright, sir?" his co-plot asked as he took the seat behind him."Just like new, Dack." Luke said, "How about you?"
"Heh. Right now I feel like I could take on the whole Empire myself."
"I know what you mean." Luke chuckled as the ship began to hover and the canopy closed. Out on the line, the soldiers ran to position with their weapons trained on the loud stomping sounds they heard in the distance.
An officer looked into his macrobinoculars only to see a squat metal foot. he followed up the long metal pillar attached to it to meet a rectangular face with cannons on either side. Zooming back somewhat, he saw that it had a few friends with it.