EXT. SPACE – SULLUST
In orbit around the volcanically active world, the vast Rebel fleet stretches as far as the eye can see. Fighters and battle cruisers surround the largest of the Rebel star cruisers, the Home One.
INT. HOME ONE/MAIN BRIEFING ROOM
Hundreds of Rebel officers of all races and genders are assembled in the war room. WEDGE ANTILLES is among them. In the centre of the room is a large holographic projector, currently inactive.
MON MOTHMA, the leader of the Alliance, enters the room. She is a stern but beautiful auburn-haired woman in early middle age. Conferring with her are several military leaders, including GENERAL CRIX MADINE and the salmon-coloured Mon Calamari ADMIRAL GIAL ACKBAR. Lando moves through the crowd until he finds Han and Chewie, standing next to Leia and the two 'droids.
Han peers at Lando’s spiffy new military dress uniform and insignia and is amused.
HAN: Commander. Excuse me, I wanted to tell you –- if you ever need a double to trick the Imperials, I know this guy named Lando who looks exactly like you.
LANDO: (amusing) What are you babbling about?
HAN: Well this fella Lando’s not a commander, see. He’s a ladies’ man and a card cheat with a terrible reputation.
LANDO: Cheat? Every time you pick up an honest deck, the face cards start crying.
HAN: (mock surprise) Why Lando, it is you!
They laugh.
LEIA: Don’t pay any attention to Han. He’s just jealous. (smiles wryly) When he went into the carbonite, he was the best-looking pilot in the Rebellion.
LANDO: Ooh!
THREEPIO: Cmdr. Calrissian, you cut an extremely dashing figure in that uniform, if I may say so.
LANDO: Thanks, Threepio.
HAN: So they made you an assault wing commander, huh, Lando?
LANDO: (proud) Someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the Battle of Taanab.
HAN: 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: 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?
Lando flashes his million-credit smile.
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. The chamber lights go dim and the projector comes to life, displaying a blue-green holographic model of the Endor moon and a red-orange model of the Empire’s new superweapon circling it in geostationary orbit. Though incomplete, enough details are present to clearly define its shape and structure. It is a DS-2 Orbital Battle Station – a Death Star II.
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. (morose) Many Bothans died to bring us this information. (beat) Admiral Ackbar, please.
Admiral Ackbar steps forward.
ADM. 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.
A yellow field simulating the energy shield is projected from the holographic moon, surrounding the Death Star model.
ADM. ACKBAR: (cont’d) The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimetre, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor.
The model of the moon is shunted out of view and the red-orange Death Star enlarged, focusing on a diagram of the internal superstructure. A dot representing an attacking vessel travels down the ductwork, strikes home, and the projector powers down with a white flash. The chamber lights come back up to full glow.
ADM. ACKBAR: (cont’d) Cmdr. Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack.
HAN: (sarcastic) Good luck.
Lando throws him a questioning look.
HAN: (cont’d) You’re gonna need it.
ADM. ACKBAR: General Madine.
Madine moves centre stage. Though he looks like a Human male with an ugly beard and bad haircut, he is in actuality a humanoid with a radically divergent internal anatomy, least of which is the secondary mouth hidden atop his head.
GEN. MADINE: We have stolen an Imperial cargo ship. 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.
C-3PO: Sounds dangerous.
LEIA: (to Han) I wonder who they found to pull that off.
HAN: Probably some sucker who lost a coin flip.
GEN. MADINE: Capt. Solo, is your strike team assembled?
Leia, startled, looks at Han, surprise changing to admiration.
LEIA: Who did you lose the coin flip to, Han? Yourself?
HAN: You could say that. And now look at me – a volunteer. (to Madine) Uh, my team’s ready. I don’t have a command crew for the shuttle.
Chewbacca raises his hairy paw and volunteers. Han looks 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: That’s one.
LEIA: (smiles) General … count me in.
C-3PO: While I would not wish to sound presumptuous, Your Highness, I must be included as well. Master Luke would expect no less of me.
LEIA: We couldn’t get along without you, Threepio.
HAN: Welcome aboard, Goldenrod.
GEN. MADINE: Solo, by my reckoning that leaves you one officer short for your command crew.
HAN: Right, sir. I was thinking of asking –
LUKE: (O.C.) I’m with you, too.
Everyone turns in the direction of that voice and peers into the crowd. At the back stands Luke. Han and Leia are surprised and delighted.
HAN: Looks like the roster’s complete, Gen. Madine.
MON MOTHMA: (nods) Time is short. Moreover, we must adjust our own plans to make up for the losses inflicted on us by Lord Vader at the battle of the Baji shipyards. So let us now conclude the overview briefing and divide into operational groups for final preparation.
The officers nod and start to get up. Luke steps down and Leia embraces him warmly. She senses a change in him and looks into his eyes questioningly.
LEIA: (frowns) What is it?
LUKE: (hesitant) Ask me again sometime.
Han and Chewie crowd around Luke as the assembly breaks up.
HAN: Luke.
LUKE: Hi, Han … Chewie.
Artoo beeps a sing-song observation to a worried Threepio.
C-3PO: There are many ways of describing this situation, Artoo, but “exciting” is hardly the word I would choose.
INT. HOME ONE/MAIN DOCKING BAY
The Millennium Falcon rests beyond the stolen Tydirium, a Sentinel-class shuttle which looks anomalous among all the Rebel ships in the vast docking bay. Chewie barks a final farewell to Lando and leads Artoo and Threepio – who have both been repainted camo green – up the shuttle, crowded now with the Rebel strike team loading weapons and supplies. Lando turns to face Han. Luke and Leia have said their good-byes and start up the ramp.
HAN: Look. I want you to take her. I mean it. Take her. You need all the help you can get. She’s the fastest ship in the fleet.
LANDO: (placating) Alright, old buddy. You know, I know what she means to you. I’ll take good care of her. She-she won’t get a scratch. Alright?
HAN: Right.
Han starts to leave, stops, turns back to Lando.
HAN: I got your promise now. Not a scratch.
LANDO: (amused) Look, would you get going, you pirate.
Han and Lando pause, then exchange salutes.
LANDO: Good luck.
HAN: You, too.
Han goes up the ramp. Lando watches him go and then slowly turns away.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
Luke is working on a back control panel as Han comes in and takes the pilot’s seat. Chewie, in the seat next to him, is trying to figure out all the Imperial controls.
LUKE: Chewie, that fake clearance code’s causing static on the IFF transponder. Give me some signal clarification, would you?
Chewie makes an adjustment.
LUKE: Okay, that’s got it.
HAN: You got her warmed?
LUKE: Yeah, she’s comin’ up.
Chewie growls a complaint.
HAN: No. I don’t think the Empire had Wookiees in mind when they designed her, Chewie. (beat) How’s that hand, Luke? You took a nasty shot back there on Nar Hekka.
LUKE: It’s fine, Han. Fixing a bionic limb’s easier than healing flesh and blood, I guess. Being part machine has its advantages.
HAN: You know, we’ve got plenty of spare blasters, Luke. You don’t have to limit yourself to –
LUKE: Thanks anyway, Han, but the lightsaber is the only weapon a Jedi needs.
HAN: Huh.
Han is a bit thrown by the tremendous change in Luke since he saw him last, at Hoth. Luke smiles understandingly.
LUKE: This thing’s gonna come out right, Han. You’ll see. We’ll make it come out right.
HAN: Yeah. Well I wish I had the same confidence in the Force that you do.
LUKE: Well for what it’s worth, the Force seems to have confidence in you.
HAN: For some reason, that doesn’t make me feel any better.
INT. HOME ONE/MAIN DOCKING BAY
The Tydirium warms up.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
Leia comes in from the hold and takes her seat near Luke. Chewie barks and hits some switches. Artoo rolls up and beeps.
C-3PO: Pardon me, Capt. Solo. Artoo says Major Derlin reports his commandos are secured for launch.
LEIA: C’mon, Captain. Liftoff time.
HAN: Right. (beat) Chewie, let’s see what this piece of junk can do. Ready, everybody?
LUKE: All set.
Artoo warbles.
C-3PO: Yes, Artoo. Here we go again.
EXT. SPACE – SULLUST
The stolen Imperial shuttle leaves the main docking bay of Home One, lowers its wings into flight position, and zooms off into space.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
HAN: Alright, hang on.
EXT. SPACE – SULLUST
The Tydirium is launched into hyperspace.
INT. SUPERWEAPON/EMPEROR’S THRONE ROOM
The throne room is dimly lit except for a pool of light at the far end. There the Emperor stands by an elaborate control chair before a large window which looks out across the giant green moon of Endor.
Darth Vader, standing with Jerjerrod and two of Palpatine’s advisors, cautiously approaches his master. The ruler’s back is to Vader.
EMPEROR PALPATINE: (to Vader) Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for.
DARTH VADER: What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?
EMPEROR PALPATINE: It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed and young Skywalker will be one of us! Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders.
DARTH VADER: Yes, my master.
Vader bows, then turns and exits the throne room as the emperor approaches the waiting advisors.
EXT. SPACE - FOREST MOON
In orbit over Endor’s moon, visible for the first time, is the monstrous half-completed Death Star II, its massive superstructure curling away from the completed section like the arms of a giant octopus.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
Han looks back at Luke and Leia as Chewie flips several switches. Through the viewscreen, the Death Star II and the huge Executor can be seen.
HAN: If they don’t go for this, we’re gonna have to get outta here pretty quick, Chewie.
Chewie growls his agreement.
CONTROLLER #2: (O.S.) We have you on our screen now. Please identify.
HAN: Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector shield.
EXT. SPACE –- FOREST MOON
The Imperial shuttle approaches the Executor.
INT. EXECUTOR/BRIDGE
CONTROLLER #2: (into comm) Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
HAN: Transmission commencing.
Leia and Chewbacca listen tensely as the sound of a high speed transmission begins.
LEIA: Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid.
HAN: It’ll work. It’ll work.
Chewie whines nervously. Luke stares at the Star Dreadnought that looms ever larger before them.
LUKE: (nervous) Vader’s on that ship.
HAN: Now don’t get jittery, Luke. There are a lot of command ships. (beat) Keep your distance though, Chewie, but don’t look like you’re trying to keep your distance.
Chewie barks a question.
HAN: I don’t know. Fly casual.
Chewie barks his worries as the Executor grows larger out the window.
INT. EXECUTOR/BRIDGE
Lord Vader walks down the row of controllers to where ADM. FIRMUS PIETT is leaning over the tracking screen of the controller we’ve seen earlier. Piett straightens at Vader’s approach.
DARTH VADER: Where is that shuttle going?
ADM. PIETT: (into comm) Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?
HAN: (O.S.; filtered) Parts and technical crew for the forest moon.
The bridge commander looks to Vader for a reaction.
DARTH VADER: Do they have a code clearance?
ADM. PIETT: It’s an older code, sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear them.
Vader looks upward, as he senses Luke’s presence.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
LUKE: I’m endangering the mission. I shouldn’t have come.
HAN: It’s your imagination, kid. C’mon. Let’s keep a little optimism here.
EXT. SPACE –- FOREST MOON
The shuttle continues on its way, passing the bridge tower of the Star Dreadnought closely.
INT. EXECUTOR/BRIDGE
ADM. PIETT: Shall I hold them?
DARTH VADER: No. Leave them to me. I will deal with them myself.
ADM. PIETT: As you wish, my lord. (to controller) Carry on.
INT. TYDIRIUM/COCKPIT
The group waits tensely.
HAN: They’re not goin’ for it, Chewie.
CONTROLLER #2: (O.S.) Shuttle Tydirium, deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course.
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Everyone but Luke, who looks worried. Chewie barks.
HAN: (elated) Okay! I told you it was gonna work. No problem.
EXT. SPACE – FOREST MOON
The stolen Imperial shuttle moves off toward the green sanctuary moon.
INT. EXECUTOR/BRIDGE
Vader watches from the bridge. He turns and quickly strides off.