Star Wars: Hope Fails

Chapter 3: Han Solo's Crisis

The cockpit intercom pinged, "Millenium Falcon, you are cleared for take-off."

Chewbacca sat in the co-pilot's seat with a furry paw poised over the controls. After a moment he turned to his Captain and growled questioningly, "Graghh?"

Han Solo stared out the viewport. Chewie's growl broke him from thought. "Huh? Oh. Hang-on a minute, Chewie." Han watched the Rebel hangar bay outside. 

Princess Leia hovered past the Falcon riding side-saddle upon a turbolift. With her were General Dodonna and other top-ranking Rebel leaders. They were returning from the launch of the X- and Y-Wing fighters - the only hope the small band of Freedom Fighters had against the Empire's Death Star. She looked grim. The Death Star would arrive shortly and Leia knew better than anyone what that meant for Yavin 4. And the Rebellion. She glanced at the Falcon as if too proud to look at a beat-up spacefreighter, yet compelled to do so by deeper feelings. 

Han twisted in his seat until she was out of sight, hoping to make eye contact. But her glance returned forward to what might well be her final task as leader of the small but quickly-growing Rebel Alliance. He turned back toward the hangar bay doors with the blue sky and green landscape outside.

"Millenium Falcon you are good to go. And I suggest you hurry. Over."

Han pushed his headset mic in front of his mouth, "Gimme one minute."

"Arooogh?" Chewie inquired.

Han stood and flicked switches on the console. "Keep the thrusters warm, pal. I'll be right back." He jogged out of the cockpit.

"Araghagh!" Annoyed, Chewie tossed his headset onto the console and folded his arms. Being Han Solo's first mate could be a frustrating gig sometimes.

Han leaped off the boarding ramp before it hit the hangar floor. Flight crew and technicians worked frantically throughout the ancient, stone Massassi temple which served as the Rebel's base. 

"Death Star will be in firing range in twenty minutes," announced the intercom. 

Han dashed across the hangar; dodging technicians, droids, equipment, pallet trucks, and landing gear. He ducked into a corridor that lead to the command center and weaved past frantic Rebel personnel and robots. There's no way they're all getting out of here, he thought.

At the end of the corridor, Han glimpsed the Princess just before she disappeared between two sentries. He pushed through the corridor but at the threshold the guards leveled their blasters at his chest. "Alliance intelligence only," one drawled.

Han scanned the war room inside. It was filled with computers, techs, and Alliance officials. In the middle stood the Princess Leia. She and the other Rebel leaders solemnly studied a desk computer projecting the Death Star's approach to Yavin Four. Luke Skywalker's protocol droid See Threepio was with them. It behaved more worriedly than the humans.

"Leia!" Han yelled over the guards' heads.

Everyone turned to the doorway. No one looked happy to see him. Least of all the Princess. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the desk top display.

"Leia, I want to talk to you!" Han pleaded.

General Dodonna broke from the somber group and marched to the doorway. "Can I help you, Captain Solo?"

Han stammered a bit. He hadn't thought this through. At all. "Well, sir, I... Uh, was hoping to have a word with the Princess."

Dodonna was polite but terse. "I'm afraid we are all quite busy at the moment, Captain, and as you've been cleared to leave I would suggest you do so immediately. For your own safety."