Captain Needa, commander of the Avenger's crew gazed out a main port, looking

at the planet when a controller came up to him. "Sir, Rebel ship coming into our

sector."

"Good," Needa replied with a gleam in his eyes. "Our first catch of the day."

"Their first target will be the power generators," General Rieekan told the

princess.

"First transport Three Zone approaching shield," one of the Rebel controllers

said, tracking a bright image that could only be an Imperial Star Destroyer.

"Prepare to open shield," a radarman ordered.

"Stand by, Ion Control," another controller said.

A giant metal globe on Hoth's icy surface rotated into position and angled its

great turret gun upward.

"Fire!" came the order from General Rieekan.

Suddenly two red beams of destructive energy were released into the cold skies.

The beams almost immediately overtook the first of the racing Rebel transport craft,

and sped on a direct course toward the huge Star Destroyer.

The twin red bolts struck the enormous ship and blasted its conning tower.

Explosions set off by the blast began to rock the great flying fortress, spinning it out

of control. The Star Destroyer plunged into deep space as the Rebel transport and its

two fighter escorts streaked off to safety.

Luke Skywalker, preparing to depart, pulled on his heavy-weather gear and

watched the pilots, gunners, and R2 units hurrying to complete their tasks. He

started toward the row of snowspeeders that awaited him. On his way, the young

commander paused at the tail section of the Millennium Falcon, where Han Solo and

Chewbacca were working frenetically on the right lifter.

"Chewie," Luke called, "take care of yourself. And watch over this guy, will

ya?"

The Wookie barked a farewell, gave Luke a big hug, then turned back to his

work on the lifters.

The two friends, Luke and Han, stood looking at each other, perhaps for the last

time.

"I hope you make your peace with Jabba," Luke said at last.

"Give 'em hell, kid," the Corellian responded lightly.

The young commander began to walk away as memories of exploits shared with

Han rushed to his mind. He stopped and looked back the Falcon, and saw his friend

still staring after him. As they gazed at each other for a brief moment, Chewbacca

looked up and knew that each was wishing the other the best, wherever their

individual fates might take them.

The public address system broke in on their thoughts. "First transport is clear,"

a Rebel announcer proclaimed the good news.

At the announcement, a cheer burst from those gathered in the hangar. Luke

turned and hurried over to his snowspeeder. When he reached it, Dack, his

fresh-faced young gunner, was standing outside the ship waiting for him.

"How are you feeling, sir?" Dack asked enthusiastically.

"Like new, Dack. How about you?"

Dack beamed. "Right now I feel like I could take on the whole Empire

myself."

"Yeah," Luke said quietly, "I know what you mean." Though there were only a

few years between them, at that moment Luke felt centuries older.

Princess Leia's voice came over the address system: "Attention, speeder

pilot...on the withdrawal signal assemble at South Slope. Your fighters are being

prepared for takeoff. Code One Five will be transmitted when evacuation is

complete."

Threepio and Artoo stood amid the rapidly moving personnel as the pilots

readied for departure. The golden droid tilted slightly as he turned his sensors on the

little R2 robot. The shadows playing over Threepio's face gave the illusion that his

face-plate had lengthened into a frown. "Why is it," he asked, "when things seem to

get settled, everything falls apart?" Leaning forward, he gently patted the other

droid's hull. "Take good care of Master Luke. And take good care of yourself."

Artoo whistled and tooted a good-bye, then turned to roll down the ice corridor.

Waving stiffly, Threepio watched as his stout and faithful friend moved away.

To an observer, it may have seemed that Threepio grew misty-eyed, but then it

wasn't the first time he had gotten a drop of oil clogged before his optical sensors.

Finally turning, the human-shaped robot moved off in the opposite direction.
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