The Empire's Fall (Pt.2)

Chapter Two: Battle of Hoth

Pilots, gunners, and R2 units run about. Luke and I, while we pull on our jackets, head toward a row of armored speeders. We stop at the rear of the Falcon, where Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter, even more hastily that before.

"Chewie-" I start, then Luke picks up,

"-take care of yourself, okay?"

I pat Chewie on the arm, and as I do Chewie puts his arms around Luke and I and gives us a tight hug. Han is talking to a repair droid when he spots us.

He waves to us and says, "Hi, kids." Then he turns to the droid. "There's got to be a reason for it. Check it at the other end. Wait a second." Then Han turns back to Luke and I. "You two all right?"

Luke speaks this time, "Yeah."

"Be careful."

"You, too." I say, beating Luke to it.

We both smile and wave at Han, before continuing on. After taking a few steps, Luke and I look back at Han. Han glances up, and I can see in his eyes that he's wishing us safety, and we do the same.

All the pilots, gunners, and troops hurry to their stations and vehicles, including me and my brother.

The announcer's voice comes over the loudspeaker, "The first transport is away."

We all cheer at the announcement, and the cheers echo through the hangar. Luke and I turn, then separate. I walk toward my snowspeeder, my gunner, a kid named Dack, is very eager to get this underway. Then we both climb in.

"Feeling all right, ma'am?"

"Just like new, Dack. How about you?"

"Right now I feel like I could take on the Empire myself."

"I know what you mean," I mutter.

Over the comlink in my snowspeeder I hear one of the trench officers.

"We have spotted Imperial walkers!"

"Imperial walkers on the north ridge."

I speak into my comlink, "Echo station Five-Seven. We're on our way."

Our fleet of snowspeeders race above the ice field, all at full throttle. We accelerate away from the base and head toward the walkers in the distance.

Luke speaks, "All right, boys-"

"And girl!"

"-and girl," Luke concedes. "Keep tight now."

"Leeda, I have no approach vector. I'm not set."

"Steady, Dack," I say. "Attack pattern Delta. Go now!"

The cannons on the walker fire at our speeders. Two speeders race past two of the walkers and bank to the right.

"All right, I'm coming in."

I turn my speeder and head directly at on of the walkers, flying toward its legs. Then I bank between the legs. I would be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying this at some level.

Luke and I apparently say the same thing into the comlink, at the same time.

"Hobbie, you still with us?"

Two speeders race directly at the head of one of the walkers, then split and fly past it.

Three other walkers keep going, firing all the cannons they have at us.