Star Wars Missions 001 - Asault on Yavin Four by Ryder Windham Page A

never have to do something like that again!”
    “Something like what?” asked Princess Leia Organa as she entered the hangar.
    “Haven’t you heard?” asked Solo, wrapping an arm around Luke’s shoulder. “We’re the guys who destroyed the Death Star.”
    “Oh, you’re still bragging about that ?” joked the princess. “How does it feel, Solo, being a hero for a change?”
    “It’s not so different… from the usual me,” Han replied with a mild shrug. “But on the other hand,” he smiled, “I kind of like the effect it has on princesses.”
    “Sure,” said Leia. “It makes us all want to run away.”
    Chewbacca let loose with a loud roar that alarmed everyone but Han, who knew that the Wookiee was laughing at him.
    “Laugh it up, furball,” said Solo. “Just remember who pays you.”
    Leia turned her attention to Luke. “Trouble with your X-wing, Master Skywalker?”
    “Huh?” Luke said, feeling himself blush at the princess’s pretend formality. “No, I was, um, just making a few adjustments to the armaments. It was Wedge’s idea” Wedge Antilles was another Rebel pilot, and a friend of Luke’s.
    “It’s wise to be prepared,” Leia said. “We lost too many brave pilots in this last battle. I don’t want to lose any more.”
    A mournful silence fell across the group as they remembered the Rebel Alliance’s losses. But soon the sound of metal footsteps approached from the darkness. In moments, a gleaming, golden figure emerged.
    “Thank goodness I’ve found you!” said See-Threepio. He waved his arms grandly in a gesture to Luke and the others. “These ruins are so vast, it’s a wonder that anyone can find anything at all!”
    “What’s wrong now?” Solo groaned. “Did you lose your little pal?”
    “What? Who?” asked Threepio. Threepio prided himself in his fluency in over six million languages. But he sometimes had great difficulty understanding Han Solo. “Oh! You mean Artoo-Detoo?”
    “No, I meant the technician that got you perfectly polished in time for the victory ceremony.”
    “Oh, no, I’m not looking for her ,” said Threepio. “But she did do an excellent job, didn’t she?”
    “Han is joking with you, Threepio,” said Luke. “Are you looking for Artoo?”
    “Artoo? No, I know where he is. Oh, you’ve got my circuits all confused! I was looking for all of you. Artoo is in the briefing room, and he’s discovered something that may be of great importance!”
    “Then we better get to the briefing room,” said Leia, already on her way with Luke beside her. Solo began to move with them, but Threepio stepped before him.
    “Excuse me, Master Solo,” he said, “but I wonder whether you could explain to me why you… joke with me?”
    “Sure, I’ll explain it,” said Solo, aiming an index finger at Threepio’s sternum. As Threepio lowered his chin to see Solo’s finger on his chestplate, Solo brought his finger up fast so that it rapped against Threepio’s olfactory sensor. Threepio jerked his head back in surprise.
    Solo grinned. “It’s because I like you.”
    “You like me?” said Threepio. “Really? How very generous of you, Captain Solo!”
    Chewbacca growled at Solo. The Wookiee thought Solo was being mean, teasing Threepio like that. Chewbacca stepped forward and wiped away the smudge that Solo’s finger had caused. Then he and Solo left the hangar.
    “Oh!” said Threepio. “I guess that means you like me too, Chewbacca. How wonderful!… Oh, dear! Wait for me!”

Captain Skeezer stood at attention in the forward launch bay of the Imperial Star Destroyer. Behind him, four crewmen, three stormtrooper squads, and three Imperial pilots prepared to board the downsized Carrack light cruiser. At nearly half the length of the typical Carrack, Skeezer’s modified vessel carried only three external TIE fighters. Still, it boasted a powerful hyperdrive engine.
    Admiral Termo strode into the launch bay and crossed directly to Skeezer. As