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

always, Termo’s voice remained low and calm.
    “We have lost contact with Grand Moff Tarkin,” said Termo. “Go to the Yavin system and investigate, but do not attempt to contact the Death Star. Is that clear?”
    “Yes, sir,” said Skeezer. His face was completely blank. Skeezer never showed emotion.
    “Do not attempt to transmit any hyperspace comm from Yavin,” added Termo. “It is possible that the transmissions are being intercepted by the Rebellion. You will return here when you have determined the status of the Death Star… and have dealt with it”
    “Yes, sir,” said Skeezer.
    Admiral Termo turned on his heel and walked out of the launch bay. It wasn’t until the sliding doors had sealed behind the departed admiral that the chief gunnery officer approached Captain Skeezer.
    “May I ask the nature of our mission, Captain Skeezer?” the gunnery officer asked. He noticed that Captain Skeezer looked concerned. Captain Skeezer never looked concerned.
    “Lieutenant,” said Skeezer, “our mission is to find out whether we are in a whole world of trouble.”

    The hologram of the Death Star was suspended in the front of the briefing room. Artoo was jacked into the holo-projector’s computer, and he adjusted the rotation of the three-dimensional image. Artoo removed the exterior hull, revealing the Death Star’s interior design.
    “I know the Death Star is gone,” said Leia, “but the sight of its hologram makes my blood run cold.”
    “Relax, Princess,” said Solo. “That thing ain’t ever coming back.”
    Luke kept his eyes on the hologram. “Why did Artoo dredge up the Death Star plans?” he asked Threepio.
    “Oh, you know Artoo,” Threepio replied. “He can’t leave anything alone until he’s looked at it from every angle. I thought his experience in the Death Star battle would have cured him of his curiosity. But it didn’t. After his repairs were made, he couldn’t wait to have another look at the plans.”
    Solo rolled his eyes. “Why’re we wasting our time, looking at the floor plans of a place that doesn’t even exist anymore?”
    “Well,” said Threepio, “when we were onboard the Death Star, Artoo plugged into its computer network to locate Princess Leia. While searching the network, Artoo noted the Death Star was carrying an extremely large amount of bacta .”
    Everyone knew about the chemical compound called bacta. Bacta was regarded as a miracle of modem science. Bacta could heal almost any wound. Injured people could be put into bacta tanks and the bacta would make them better almost immediately.
    “What a waste,” said Solo. “You wouldn’t believe how much people along the Outer Rim will pay for bacta!”
    Leia shot Solo an icy glance. “Don’t you ever stop thinking about money? That bacta could have saved a lot of lives!”
    “Yeah, well there’s no use arguing about it, your worshipfulness,” said Solo, “because it’s gone!”
    “Wait a minute,” said Luke. “Bacta is used to heal people. Why would the Death Star be carrying so much?”
    Artoo-Detoo let out a flurry of beeps and whistles.
    “That’s precisely what Artoo-Detoo was wondering!” exclaimed Threepio. “According to the plans, the Death Star’s medical stations were equipped with their own sufficient supply of bacta. It would seem that this extra bacta was cargo .”
    “Maybe they were expecting heavy casualties somewhere,” said Solo. “And if there’s one thing I don’t care about, it’s dead Imperials.”
    Leia ignored Solo’s bravado. “It just doesn’t make sense,” she said. “The Imperial Navy isn’t even sympathetic to their own wounded.”
    “And once the Empire built the Death Star,” added Luke, “they probably didn’t expect to lose any battles…”
    “Oh, dear!” said Threepio suddenly, raising a hand to his head. “My broadband antenna has received a relay signal from our beacon satellite! A ship of unknown origin has entered the Yavin