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81. SLUM DWELLING - LIVING AREA - AQUILAE The
seedy dwelling is dark and dingy. The
group is greeted by three underground
leaders, and the old Jedi, Kane Starkiller.
Captain Starkiller embraces
his father as the underground leaders bow before the princess. 82. SLUM DWELLING - DINING AREA - AQUILAE The
princess walks through the dining area followed by Whitsun and Starkiller, who
carry the two sleeping princes. The
general sits at a large table finishing
dinner with Han, Kane and the three underground leaders. Whitsun returns
from the bedroom. GENERAL
(to Whitsun) Captain,
why don't you take the androids into the other room for a game of chess?
... I'm sure they'd enjoy it. THREEPIO A
wonderful idea. Your kindness is
greatly appreciated. Whitsun escorts
the two robots into the next room.
Datos, a thin, wizened old man,
seems greatly relieved. DATOS You're
taking a great risk travelling with them.
This whole operation sounds bad to
me. I don't trust the chrome
companies. Time is growing short. The Empire's
attempts at control have already caused a great deal of suffering to our
people. Occo, a
brash young rebel, about the same age as Captain Starkiller, slams his fist on
the table. OCCO It must
happen now! We are ready! Each day the Imperial S.B.T. finds and destroys
a few more in the organization. We
cannot wait any longer. GENERAL Any
uprising without a coordinated attack on the death star is out of the question. HAN He's
right. As long as it's operational,
any action down here would be meaningless. We must proceed as planned. Are the arrangements secure? Quist,
the third member of the underground, sparks to life, and places several discs
and badges on the table. QUIST All
passenger transport has been suspended, so we've arranged for you to travel
as the crew of a Baltarian freighter.
The boys will have to be placed in
suspended animation and hidden in shielded micro-packs. It's the only way we will
be able to get them past the scanners. DATOS Were you
able to acquire the necessary power packs? QUIST It's
become a serious problem. All power
supplies have been restricted. S-4 units
are impossible to come by. HAN I know
an agent who might be able to acquire them for us. I'll check with him. It will be risky, but we've no other
choice. 83. SPACEPORT OBSERVATION DECK - AQUILAE The dark
figure of Valorum stands overlooking a group of Aquilaean partisans who are
being tortured in the plaza below. Two
Imperial officers are finishing
a report to the black knight. They
salute smartly, then leave the observation
balcony, passing Kuro, one of General Vader's aides, who approaches
Valorum, and bows low before him. Kuro
and the black knight carry on an
animated conversation; it is inaudible over the screams of the tortured partisans. 84. SLUM DWELLING - ALLEYWAY - AQUILAE Residents
glance fearfully from their windows as six Imperial stormtroopers make
their way through the crowded slum alleyway.
Han Solo and Captain Starkiller
move cautiously past the Imperial patrol, and disappear into the shabby
hideout of the partisan underground. 85. SLUM DWELLING - MAIN AREA - AQUILAE The two
men enter the dingy main room of the slum dwelling, and are immediately
attacked by Biggs, wielding a toy sword.
Starkiller good- naturedly
fends off the young prince, as Han in a more serious mood, goes into the
other room. Artwo and Threepio are
helping Windy put together a block- like
puzzle. Princess Leia comes in to see
what all the commotion is about, just as
the young captain grabs Biggs by the foot and holds him upside-down. Starkiller
and Biggs are laughing uproariously.
Leia gives the captain a stern,
disapproving look, then returns to the other room. 86. SLUM DWELLING - DINING AREA - AQUILAE General
Skywalker, Captain Whitsun, and Datos are in the process of assembling two
micro-packs on the kitchen table. Han
pulls a small silver powerpack from his
pocket, and places it on the table.
The old Jedi, Kane Starkiller, reaches
over with his one good arm and takes it.
He inspects it carefully. Princess
Leia sits quietly behind the general. HAN We could
only get one unit. The Empire's
methods are proving to be very effective. Kane
places the power-pack back on the table.
The pain from those simple movements
shows on his face. KANE This will
work fine. HAN One of
the boys will have to stay. DATOS We can't
hide him for very long....The risk is too great! Whichever boy doesn't
go must be destroyed. The
princess is alarmed, and looks to the general for support. He gives her an
understanding look. GENERAL Not
while they're in my charge. Find
another way to get him through. DATOS There's
no other way. We've analyzed every
possible alternative. You can't jeopardize
the enitre... Captain
Starkiller enters the room. HAN We have
no time for discussion. The freighters
leave at zero three hundred. We must
get started. Through
a break in the door, Whitsun watches Artwo and Threepio play with the two
young princes. WHITSUN What
about Artwo? Could we lobotomize him,
and use his energy pack? GENERAL They're
not compatible. We'd have to
completely change the system... HAN It could
work. DATOS There
isn't enough time. You can't do it... KANE You
won't have to. My power unit has more
than half life.... Use it. The
withered Jedi opens his tunic revealing a metallic chest covered with electrodes. With his one good arm, he grabs his chest
and rips loose and miniature
power unit similar to the one on the table.
Everyone is taken by surprise. The general and the young Starkiller both
rush to the side of the dying
Jedi. The old man turns to his son. KANE Trust my
judgment, Son. Serve your new teacher
well. The
Jedi's breathing becomes more difficult as he turns to the general. KANE
(con't) An
honorable death, my friend. May the
force of others be with you.... Kane
Starkiller passes on to the other world.
Everyone is stunned. The general
breaks the moment of silence. GENERAL May he
be welcomed as a man above men. Take
him downstairs. Starkiller
takes his father in his arms and is followed out of the room by Han and
Datos. GENERAL Prepare
the boys! We have little time. Princess
Leia and Captain Whitsun rush out of the room, as the general places the
power units in the micro-packs. 87. SLUM DWELLING - MAIN AREA - AQUILAE Biggs and
Windy are not happy about being dragged away from their puzzle. Whitsun
takes the robots into the sleep area. LEIA Now
straighten up, Biggs. Remember, father
expects you to follow his ways. We are
going on a trip. There will be great
danger. You must go to sleep. When you
wake, you will be in a strange land, so don't be alarmed. BIGGS Are you
going to sleep too? LEIA I will
be looking after you. Now be good boys
and stand still. Lift your sleeve. Windy
lifts his sleeze and Leia injects him with a sleep serum. Whitsun enters
just as the little prince collapses into a deep sleep. Quick as lightning,
he catches the boy before he can hit the floor. The princess injects
her other brother, and he collapses into her arms. 88. SLUM DWELLING - DINING AREA - AQUILAE The limp
bodies of the two young princes are carried in by Leia and Captain Whitsun. They are carefully squeezed into the
hollowed out micro-cases. Leia pensively
watches as the general expertly attaches electrodes to her brother's skull. Han and Datos return from the burial of
Kane. The general looks up from his
operation. HAN He is at
rest. The Empire will never find
him. Are the systems working all right? GENERAL Full
power...Is everything ready? Datos
nods yes, as the general closes the case holding Biggs. The strain of watching
her brothers placed in suspended animation is too great for Leia, and she
retreats into the main room. 89. SLUM DWELLING - MAIN ROOM - AQUILAE Captain
Starkiller stands brooding near a window overlooking the crowded alleyway. He does not acknowledge Leia's
entrance. She walks over to the window,
and stands next to the young captain.
They are very close, but do not touch. LEIA I'm
sorry. He does
not respond. She is moved by his
sorrow, and starts to touch the side of his
face, but can't bring herself to do it.
Her royal training is too strong
to let her show her true affection for Starkiller. She breaks down and runs
from the room. The young Jedi
continues his meditation. 90. SPACEPORT AT GORDON - SECURITY RAMP -
AQUILAE The
spaceport is very crowded. People rush
about in a panicked rush as loudspeakers
blurt out indiscernible announcements.
The Empire is in the process
of changing the boarding procedures and the result is chaos. Many flights
are delayed, and people are running to and fro, switching boarding ramps. Han guides the rebel group, dressed as a
Baltarian crew, through the crowded
terminal. Whitsun and Starkiller carry
the large micro-packs strapped to their
backs. The robots follow a few paces
behind. HAN They're
changing the boarding procedures. I
don't like it. They are
swept into a boarding gate and finally reach a security ramp scan station. There are a great number of troops and
guards standing around the security
area. An officer demands to see their
passes and orders. The tension
builds as the officer confers with an aide about the passes. The aide speaks
quietly into a phone. OFFICER Where
are your component receipts? Starkiller
and Whitsun hand the officer two additional discs which are placed in the
computer. A few moments later, the
readout appears, and the group is motioned
through the electron scanners. On the
other side of the scanner, new computer
discs are issued to the group.
Everyone seems slightly relieved as they
walk through several hallways leading to where the freighter is docked. Starkiller
moves next to the general. STARKILLER I don't
like the feel of this. GENERAL Your
senses are strong. It's a very small
disruption. STARKILLER It's a
Knight of the Sith. GENERAL Possibly. Stay alert...Warn the others. The
group walks through the docking links and into the Baltarian spacecraft. Several
Imperial guards pass them, and everyone is ready for the suspected trap,
but nothing happens.. 91. INTERIOR - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER - AQUILAE The
group stops in a narrow electronics passageway near the bridge of the ship. Starkiller and Whitsun unstrap the
micro-packs containing the two young princes,
and check the voltage packs. WHITSUN Little
Biggs is losing power faster than normal.
I'd better check it out. GENERAL Wait
until the situation is secure. Stay
here, and keep on your guard....Han! The two
young captains grow suspicious of several workmen gathering around the main
exit hatch. Han and the general enter
the bridge area. Several crewmen sit at
elaborate controls and computer stations. GENERAL Where is
your captain? One of
the crewmen directs him to a small chamber above the bridge. Starkiller
and Whitsun strap on their micropacks as more workmen converge at the main
hatch and begin to close it. The two
robots, Artwo and Threepio are confused
about what is going on, and wear their gear in anticipation of moving. 92. PILOT CHAMBER - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER -
AQUILAE Han and
the general enter the small pilot's chamber and greet the captain, whose
face is hidden in the shadows of a computer bank. CAPTAIN Welcome,
gentlemen. You must have had a
difficult journey. We'll be departing
shortly.... [p. 77
is all screwed up. I attempt to
interpret here:] [Four
Imperial tr]oopers silently enter the room behind the two [??] Their laserswords
are drawn. CAPTAIN
(con't) [?] I
have been authorized to accept payment [?] the chrome company cooperation. I [?] you've brought it with you. [?]
moves out of the shadows, and is revealed to [be Valorum, F]irst Knight of the
Sith. Instantly, both Han and [the
general] understand the situation. They
turn, drawing their [laserswords? ?] the move, and cut down the four Imperial
troopers. [?] chamber instantly seals
shut. Valorum hasn't [?] and remains
unusually calm. The two Jedi turn [?] VALORUM [?]
over, gentlemen. The chamber is
sealed. [?] force me to release the
Jai gas... [?] and
the black knight turns to an intercom. INTERCOM [?]ion
secure. Prisoners taken to hold
"B,"... [?] casualties.... gas was necessary. [?]eral
relax and drop their weapons. The door
[?] behind them and six guards enter
wearing face-[?]nd the two Jedi with chrome microcuffs. A [?] creeps across
Valorum's face. General [?]
unimpressed with the knightly trap. VALORUM [?] it's
ended. (to guard) Take them [?] "G." I don't want them with the others. [?] for departure. [?esc]ort
Han and the general out of the chamber [?] hallways. [?93. INTERIOR - BALTA]RIAN FREIGHTERS - AQUILAE [?]ch
Han and the general into the hold of the [?] near the main exit where Artwo
and Threepio [?] looking lost.
Threepio sees the general pass [?]ay. THREEPIO [?]ere
he is. Come on. [end of
p. 77] The
robots waddle off after the Jedi prisoners.
As the small procession passes
detention cell B where the princess and the others are being held, Han and the
general let out a horrifying Jedi scream, and leap to the corridor ceiling,
thrusting their bound wrists into the lighting fixtures. They land on top
of the troops, instantly breaking the necks of four guards, with expertly
placed Jedi blows. The eight surviving
guards are momentarily dumbfounded. Han and the general grab laserswords from
their victims, and swiftly
cut down the remaining troops. Han
grabs a small card from one of the dead
guards, and starts for detention cell B. GENERAL Watch
it! Those are cutters. The
general grabs one of the dead troopers and tosses him against the cell door. Red rays engulf the body, and holds it there. Han then places the card in a
slot, and the door silently slides open.
Starkiller and Whitsun leap for the dead
guard, then notice the death ray surrounding him. General Skywalker grabs
another body and throws it into the doorway. GENERAL Pass
between them! Starkiller
squeezes between the slain guards, and is untouched by the rays. Whitsun
and the princess quickly follow, picking up weapons as they leave. STARKILLER They've
taken the cases. GENERAL Are they
aware of the boys? WHITSUN I don't
think so. GENERAL Find
them! Use your seeker. We'll meet you at the main hatch. Watch yourselves. If an alarm is given, they'll gas the
entire ship. WHITSUN Yes,
Sir. Whitsun
and Starkiller each take a small humming device from their utility belts
and head down a narrow hallway. The
general, Han and the princess continue
toward the main hatch. Artwo and
Threepio have been completely confused
by the turn of events. They eventually
follow the general toward the exit
hatch. 94. ELECTROCLOSET HALLWAY - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER
- AQUILAE The two
young captains reach a storage area of the huge spacecraft. They watch
their seekers as they move along a row of electroclosets. They quietly sneak
past a group of workmen assembling a large gyro-housing. A second row of
micro-packs is searched to no avail. WHITSUN If they
were discovered, they would have been sent to a medical station. STARKILLER There
are more storage areas on the far side. 95. MAIN HATCH AREA - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER -
AQUILAE Han and
the general reach the main hatch, closely followed by Leia and the two robots. Several lights over the hatch flash on and
off. The general cuts a camera
off the wall with his lasersword. HAN They're
going to take off....It's too late. GENERAL Threepio! Come over here. The
lanky chrome man approaches the general, who is studying a complex computer
control panel next to the hatch. THREEPIO Yes
Sir. May I be of service? GENERAL Get this
hatch open. Counterlock the departure
pattern. The
robot immediately starts pushing buttons on the panel. 96. ELECTROCLOSET HALLWAY - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER
- AQUILAE Starkiller
and Whitsun reach a second series of electroclosets. A signal appears
on the seekers, and Starkiller cuts down the door of one of the small cabinets. Whitsun stands guard. Approaching troops are heard in the distance. Starkiller quickly rummages through the
electropacks until he spots the
familiar cases containing the two boys. WHITSUN Troops! Starkiller
straps on one of the back packs, and hands the other to Whitsun, as they
duck into a narrow passageway. Four
troops march through a nearby hallway. After they have passed, the young captain
checks to make sure the way is
clear, then runs down a hallway toward the main hatch. 97. BRIDGE - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER - AQUILAE As the
crew makes the final preparations for the blast off, the main hatch light
blinks on. One of the pilots notices
the light and begins to check it out. PILOT
(into intercom) Is the
main hatch secure? 98. MAIN HATCH - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER - AQUILAE The
intercom sparks to life, and the general answers it. GENERAL Everything
looks secure, but give me a minute to check it out. PILOT All
right... Stand by. The
general gives a wink to Han, as Threepio continues his attempt to override the
hatch computer. 99. HALLWAYS - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER - AQUILAE Starkiller
and Whitsun cautiously move down a long hallway, ever watchful of Imperial
troops. They reach an intersection,
carefully check in all directions,
then rush down a main hallway. They
are about half way down the hallway,
when a squad of Imperial guards appears at the end of the hallway, facing
them. The troops start toward the two
captains with lowered laserrifles. STARKILLER Here's
where it gets tricky. Starkiller,
then Whitsun, quickly and smoothly draw their laserpistols and fire at
the troops. A giant explosion destroys
the far end of the hallway. A few
laserbolts are returned, but streak harmlessly overhead, and explode out of
range. The exchange of gunfire lasts
only a few moments. When the smoke clears,
the troops have been destroyed. 100. MAIN HATCH - BALTARIAN FREIGHTER - AQUILAE The main
hatch slowly begins to slide open, when the rumbling explosion of laserfire
echoes through the hallways. Han looks
to the general, and they both
instantly realize what has happened.
Han draws his weapons. The
hatch is now
fully open. Everyone stands silently,
watching for the two captains. Alarms
start screaming throughout the ship, and the giant hatch slowly begins to
close. GENERAL Come
on. We can't wait. The
group reluctantly exits the spacecraft, giving one last look back to their lost
friends. The hatch continues to close
slowly as the alarm sirens wail. Suddenly,
Starkiller and Whitsun round a corner and head for the ever-closing hatch;
battling several Imperial stormtroopers as they go. Han and the general
move up to the hatch and give cover fire.
Whitsun slips through the shrinking
opening, and yells to Starkiller to hurry.
Many more troops bear down on the
young Jedi as he squeezes through the very slim opening. One of the
troops dives after him, but is caught, and crushed by the emergency hatch. 101. BOARDING RAMPS - GORDON SPACEPORT - AQUILAE The
general leads the group through various corridors. HAN Once the
alarm sounds, the entire spaceport will shut down. They
stop at a junction. At the far end of
one hallway, several troops guard a
restricted passageway. GENERAL That's
the military section. STARKILLER Fighter
craft! HAN But it's
very heavily guarded. We can't take it
with subtlety. Before
the general can answer, the acute scream of the spaceport alarm reverberates
through the corridors. The general,
followed by his two young captains,
charge toward the heavily guarded military passageway. Han, with the
princess and two robots, follow a safe distance behind. A guard sees them coming,
and orders them to stop. Starkiller
and the general fire their laserpistols
at the passageway entrance and the troops disappear in a huge explosion. The group
jumps over the dead guards and smoking rubble, then runs through a series
of hallways leading to a starship.
They stop just short of an intersection
leading to a boarding ramp. Starkiller
peeks around a corner at two
guards standing in front of the boarding ramp. STARKILLER Cutters! We'll have to draw them out...A blast might
alert the crew. GENERAL Artwo! Come here. The
little robot waddles over to the old Jedi. GENERAL
(con't) Move to
that intersection and sound the alarm. The
mechanical dwarf dutifully marches into the intersection and lets out a high,
electronic scream. The guards shut off
the deadly laser "cutters," and cautiously
approach the wailing robot. GUARD What is
it? What's wrong? With
incredible speed, both guards are dropped by a few precision blows from the two
young captains. They immediately drag
the unconscious guards into the starship. GENERAL Starkiller! Whitsun!
Stand guard. I'll signal at
take-off minus thirty...And
reverse that cutter! 102. INTERIOR - IMPERIAL STARSHIP - AQUILAE Han and
the general, followed by Leia and the robots, enter the Imperial starship. They rush through several narrow hallways
leading to the bridge. Two crew
members leaving a control station, stumble into the group and are quickly
dispatched by Han. The princess waits
with the robots, as the general and Han
enter the bridge. The two pilots and
navigator are taken by surprise and
promptly are subdued. Han switches on
the intercom and listens. HAN How are
we going to get them to open the silo cover? GENERAL Send
Threepio in here. Dispose of any
crewmen left on board. 103. BOARDING RAMP - SPACEPORT - AQUILAE Starkiller
and Whitsun now wear the uniform of the Imperial guard. Whitsun has
removed a plate from the "cutter" machinism and is crossing a few
wires. He
replaces the "cutter" plate just as a squad of stormtroopers rushes
toward the
door. An officer salutes them. OFFICER Have you
seen them? STARKILLER No, Sir. OFFICER They're
in this section somewhere. I'm
doubling all the guards. Stay alert. Two
guards take up positions just outside the "cutter" areas, and the
squad moves on
to another starship. Starkiller gives
his partner a philosophical look. 104. INTERIOR - IMPERIAL STARSHIP - AQUILAE The
gleaming chrome Threepio sits in the pilot's seat, talking on the intercom to a
controller. He breaks off his
continual drone of take-off instructions to the
controller and turns to the general, shaking his head. THREEPIO They
won't buy it. I think they're getting
suspicious. Han
enters. HAN The crew
is taken care of. GENERAL Well,
they're not going to open the silo cover, so I'm afraid we'll have to take it
with us. HAN We're
going to sustain considerable damage if we blast off through that cover. GENERAL It's a
thin shell. There is no choice. (to Threepio) Signal the boys. 105. BOARDING RAMPS - SPACEPORT - AQUILAE Warning
lights flash and the main hatch to the starfighter slowly begins to close. The two Imperial stormtroopers yell at
Starkiller and Whitsun. STORMTROOPER Watch
it! Don't fire into those
cutters! (to Starkiller) Shut down the cutters! The two
captains pretend to be confused, and not understand. At the last minute,
they leap aboard the starship. The
hatch slides closed, and the boarding
ramp drops away. Several more guards
arrive, and give the troopers a special
card, which turns the small cutter warning lights from red to green. The
guards rush onto the boarding ramp and are wiped out by the reversed "cutters." 106. INTERIOR - STARSHIPS - AQUILAE Everyone
straps himself into the lifepods.
Threepio and the general troddle forward,
and the giant ship shudders as it starts to lift off the launch pad. With
tense expressions, everyone braces for the impact of the silo cover. 107. STARSHIP - SPACEPORT SILO - AQUILAE The mighty starship thunders out of the silo,
crashing through the cover plate,
sending shrapnel in all directions.
The ship leaps toward the heavens. 108. BOARDING CAMPS - SPACEPORT - AQUILAE Imperial
flight crews rush to their starships.
Pilots receive their clearances,
and several giant silo covers swing away, revealing deadly hunter- destroyer
spaceships. 109. INTERIOR - BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE Han and
the general watch as five hunter-destroyers leave the spaceport at Gordon. GENERAL We
suffered light damage to a deflector fin.
It will take them quite a while to catch
up with us now. Tell the boys to get
some rest. 110. AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE Han
retreats to the aft section of the ship, where the two captains are checking
out the two main lasercannons mounted in large rotating bubble turrets. HAN The old
boy says you two should get some rest... You've got some time before they
catch up to us. Han
notices the packs containing the young princes. HAN (con't) Better
store the boys in a lifepod. Secure
them well. He heads
back toward the bridge, followed by Whitsun.
Starkiller carries the two
micro-packs to a lifepod, and straps them in.
He checks Biggs' energy supply. It is low.
Leia approaches him. LEIA Couldn't
we let them out now? STARKILLER It's
better this way. Things are going to
get rough... LEIA Will we
make it? Is there any hope? Stay with me. [something deleted?]... I love
you. Starkiller
is slightly shocked at this outburst.
The princess starts to cry and
clings to him for support. STARKILLER No-one
is going to die...so stop acting like a child, and start behaving like a
queen. What is this silly talk of
love? You belong to the people of Aquilae,
and my job is to return you to them, nothing more. Now straighten up and get
into a lifepod. She's
deeply hurt by his callousness. She
breaks away from him and runs down a
hallway into a lifepod. He is tired,
and angry at the whole incident. 111. BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE Threepio
guides the starship toward the Ophuchi system. The general watches the
computer readout estimate the position of the Imperial hunter destroyers. THREEPIO Hostile
craft will intercept at thirty plus. GENERAL What's
the nearest star System? THREEPIO Yavin. GENERAL Set a
course... Maybe we can lose them among the Systems. 112. AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE Starkiller
rests in one of the lasercannon pod bays.
He is thinking about Leia. Slowly a smile creeps across his face. He makes a decision, jumps up, and
hurries down a hallway. He taps on the
lifepod bulkhead, and Whitsun opens
the door. Starkiller is surprised. WHITSUN What is
it? STARKILLER Where is
Leia? WHITSUN She went
forward.... What's going on with you two? STARKILLER We're in
love. She loves me, and I just
realized,... I love her. WHITSUN [something
whited out] You're asking for trouble... She's a queen... You're a warrior....Do
you know what you're saying? STARKILLER I don't
care... I've got to talk... Whitsun
just shakes his head, but before Starkiller can finish his sentence, the ship
is rocked by a bombardment of proton torpedoes. The intercom squawks to life. GENERAL
(over intercom) Get to
those guns! Starkiller
and Whitsun rush to the lasercannons, and jump into the protective suits
and helmets. 113. BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE Han
enters the bridge and sits before a fire control center. The general sits in a
chair, slightly behind and above Threepio, directing the robot pilot. GENERAL Turn
around! Let's face them. Artwo,
sitting quietly in a corner, watches as Threepio punches new information
into the computer and the giant starship swings around in a sharp circle. Several torpedoes explode near the
ship. The general switches on the intercom. GENERAL Your
boys ready? 114. AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE The
captains adjust the lasercannon controls in front of them and check in with the
general. GENERAL They
should be within range in twelve seconds... Starkiller
adjusts his giant laser ack-ack cannon, searching his electronic tracking
screen for the hunter destroyer.
Whitsun is having a problem with one of
the rotating mechanisms on the huge gun.
He curses, climbs out of the chair,
and attempts to fix it. WHITSUN My
vertical rotating circuits are out... The princess
straps herself into a small lifepod.
[something whited out] Only the
slightest hint of concern or worry shows in her face. She listens to her
protectors relay instructions as the enemy approaches. 115. BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE The
starship shudders as the hunter-destroyers open fire. Han relays the ship's
status to the general, as Threepio struggles to keep up with the barrage
of orders. HAN We're
losing deflectors three thirty one and ten forty two... GENERAL
(to Threepio) Cut hard
to maridian nine zero six. Level to
three degrees...(into the intercom) We're coming under one. Wait for my signal! 116. AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE The
constant flashing of deflected laser bolts reflect in the interior of the lasercannon
bubble. Starkiller rechecks his firing
swithces..Whitsun adjusts his
headphones, and lowers a glare reflector.
He raps on the power rotation circuits,
and gives them a little test burst.
The pod instantly rotates a few degrees. The large starship heads directly toward
the three enemy ships and at the
last moment dives under the attacking craft.
Starkiller watches the smaller
crafts pass overhead, aching to open fire.
He calls Whitsun on the intercom. STARKILLER I've got
no signal. I'm on target. What's wrong? What are they waiting for? I've got
an open shield! The
three Imperial craft are firing incessantly at point blank range. WHITSUN Wait for
the signal. But
Starkiller has a perfect shot, and he can't wait. He squeezes the trigger and the
giant lasercannon, with a burst of smoke and electrical charge, opens up on
the enemy craft. Moments later, the
signal lights flash on and Whitsun commences
firing on the receeding hunter-destroyers.
Two of the Imperial craft
break off, and prepare for another attack run. The third is hit by a concentrated
barrage from the two captains, and begins spinning out of control,
until it finally explodes. Whitsun
gives Starkiller a victory wave, which
Starkiller gleefully returns. These
moments of triumph are broken by the intercom. GENERAL Annikin,
next run you wait for my signal. We
haven't much power to spare on your
inaccurate grandstanding! Starkiller's
pride is wounded. He resets his
accelerators, as the two remaining
hunter-destroyers begin a second run. 117. BRIDGE - STARSHIP - SPACE Han
turns to the general. HAN We have
a weakened shield on the port turret... GENERAL |