It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.
Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth.
The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space . . . .
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PLANET HOTH: A Star Destroyer moves through space.
Several Imperial probe robots are released from its underside..
One of these probes zooms toward the planet Hoth and lands on its ice- covered surface.
An explosion marks the point of impact.
HOTH - METEORITE CRATER: A weird mechanical sound rises above the whining of the wind.
A strange probe robot, with several extended sensors, emerges from the smoke-shrouded crater.
The ominous mechanical probe floats across the snow plain and disappears into the distance.
PLAIN OF HOTH: A small figure gallops across the windswept ice slope. The bundled rider is mounted on a large gray snow lizard, a Tauntaun.
Curving plumes of snow rise from beneath the speeding paws of the two-legged beast.
The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a stop.
Pulling off his protective goggles, it is Luke Skywalker.
Luke notices another impact explosion.
He pulls out a pair of electrobinoculars from his utility belt and focuses on the impact site.
Through them he sees smoke rising from where the probe robot has crashed.
The wind whips at Luke's fur-lined cap and he activates a comlink transmitter. His Tauntaun shifts and moans nervously beneath him.
LUKE (into comlink): Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you read me?
After a little static a familiar voice is heard.
HAN (over comlink): Loud and clear, kid. What's up?
As they talk, we see in the distance, Han riding on his Tauntaun.
LUKE (into comlink): Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any life readings.
HAN (over comlink): There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. The sensors are placed, I'm going back.
LUKE (into comlink): Right. I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out. It won't take long.
Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his nervous lizard. He pats the beast on the head to calm it.
LUKE: Hey, steady girl. What's the matter? You smell something?
Suddenly he hears a monstrous howl and turns to see an eleven-foot-tall shape towering over him. It is a Wampa Ice Creature, lunging at him ferociously.
Before Luke can react, he is hit flat in the face by a huge white claw.
LUKE: Aaargh!
He falls unconscious into the snow.
The Wampa then turns it's attention to the terrified Tauntaun, it's screams are cut short as the Wampa repeats the same vicious attack.
The Wampa Ice Creature grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away across the frozen plain.
REBEL BASE ENTRANCE: A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance of an enormous ice cave.
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