The vast Rebel Fleet stretches as far as the eye can see. Overhead a dozen small Corellian battleships fly in formation. Fighters and battlecruisers surround the largest of the Rebel Star Cruisers, the Headquarters Frigate.
Headquarters Frigate: Hundreds of Rebel commanders of all races and forms are assembled in the War Room. Wedge is among them.
Lando moves through the crowd until he finds Han and Chewie, standing next to Leia and the two droids. Han peers at Lando's new insignia on his chest, and is amused.
HAN: Well, look at you, a general, huh?
LANDO: Oh, well, someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab.
HAN (sarcastic): Well, don't look at me, pal. I just said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they were lookin' for somebody to lead this crazy attack.
LANDO (smiling): I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it.
HAN: Well, who says they didn't. But I ain't crazy. You're the respectable one, remember?
Mon Mothma, the leader of the Alliance, enters the room. She is a stern but beautiful woman in her fifties. Conferring with her are several military leaders, including General Madine and Admiral Ackbar (a salmon-colored Mon Calamari). Mon Mothma signals for attention, and the room falls silent.
MON MOTHMA: The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come.
This causes a stir.
Mon Mothma turns to a holographic model of the the Endor moon in the center of the room.
MON MOTHMA: The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star.
A volley of spirited chatter erupts from the crowd. Han turns to Leia as Chewie barks his amazement. Many Bothans died to bring them this information.
MON MOTHMA (cont): Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar, please.
Admiral Ackbar steps forward and points to the hologram.
ACKBAR: You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby forest Moon of Endor.
The holographic model depicts the half-completed Imperial Death Star, the nearby Moon of Endor, and the protecting deflector shield.
ACKBAR: The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor.
There's a concerned murmur.
ACKBAR (cont): General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack.
Han turns to Lando with a look of respect.
HAN: Good luck.
Lando nods his thanks.
HAN: You're gonna need it.
ACKBAR: General Madine.
Madine moves center stage.
GENERAL MADINE: We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator.
The assembly begins to mumble among themselves.
THREEPIO: Sounds dangerous.
LEIA (to Han): I wonder who they found to pull that off.
GENERAL MADINE: General Solo, is your strike team assembled?
Leia, startled, looks up at Han, surprise changing to admiration.
HAN: Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle.
Chewbacca raises his hairy paw and volunteers. Han looks up at him.
HAN: Well, it's gonna be rough, pal. I didn't want to speak for you.
Chewie waves that off with a huge GROWL.
HAN (smiles): That's one.
LEIA: Uh, General... count me in.
VOICE (OS): I'm with you, too!
They turn in that direction and peer into the crowd, it's Luke. Han and Leia are surprised and delighted. Leia moves to Luke and embraces him warmly. She senses a change in him and looks into his eyes questioningly.
LEIA: What is it?
LUKE (hesitant): Ask me again sometime.
Han, Chewie, and Lando crowd around Luke as the assembly breaks up.
HAN: Luke.
LUKE: Hi, Han... Chewie.
Artoo beeps a singsong observation to a worried Threepio.
THREEPIO: "Exciting" is hardly the word I would use.
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