I would suggest a template. It's hard to get anywhere without one and easy to get stuck without having an idea of what's coming next.
I really enjoyed it, but don't you think the first two thirds or so are a bit too reminiscent of the opening of A New Hope? Of course it won't be as noticeable with the rest of the story afterward, but maybe that's something to think about for a future draft. I think parallels work well, but be careful not to overdo them.