Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away....
Leia anxiously paced the main bridge of the Tantive IV. The ship was currently in orbit around the planet Toprawa, waiting for her contact.
"Princess Leia," her uncle, Raymus Antilles, captain of the ship, said, "may I say once more that I am opposed to this plan of yours?"
"If you must, Antilles," Leia sighed. She'd already heard it enough times.
"The moment we leave hyperspace and emerge in that restricted solar system we'll be in serious trouble," Antilles went on. "Diplomatic immunity or no, we'll be subject to boarding and arrest if we're caught by the Imperial starfleet."
"We either act now or use any chance the Rebel Alliance has to stop the Empire," Leia insisted. "There's no time for caution."
Fortunately, the appearance of two droids, an astromech and a golden humanoid protocol droid, spared her from any more worrying from her uncle. She understood his concerns, but since arriving home and finding that the plans to the Death Star had been successfully stolen, she knew she'd have to risk everything to receive the plans herself and deliver them back to her father.
"Ah, I believe our droids are here," Antilles said.
The astromech droid beeped in greeting. "Oh, be quiet," the protocol droid said. "Captain Antilles, may it please you, sir, I have the honor of reporting to duty. C-3PO, human relations droid." The astromech beeped indignantly. "Oh, yes, and my subordinate, R2D2."
"3PO?" Antilles said. "You were in protocol, weren't you? What are you doing with a maintenance droid for a counterpart?"
"There turned out to be little need for interpreters on this trip, Captain," C-3PO said.
Since they were in restricted space and were in need of an alibi in case they were spotted, Leia had decided to sent an astromech out on to the hull of the ship to pretend to be making repairs. She now ordered R2D2 to go to an airlock and do so, while Antilles instructed both R2 and C-3PO to restrict and protect all references to her identity and presence on the ship -- and to obey all her orders as well.
"Princess Leia, I hope this message you intend to intercept is worth the risk," Antilles said.
"It cost the Rebel Alliance over 100 lives to get this information, Captain," Leia said solemnly.
"May I ask what it is?" her uncle asked.
"Have you ever heard rumors of an Imperial strategic weapons project called Death Star?" Leia said. "We're told it's an enormous space battle station with enough firepower to destroy entire planets."
"That's incredible," Antilles said, stunned.
Before he could ask more, a transmission was beamed to the ship. "Come in, Skyhook. Come in, Skyhook," a staticky voice said.
"Skyhook here," Leia answered.
"We only have moments," came a terse voice. "Prepare to copy."
"Ready and copying. Go ahead," Leia said as the data began to transmit.
A few moments later, an alarm began to sound. "Antilles, what's that?" Leia asked.
"An Imperial cruiser," Antilles said, checking the sensors. "They've found us already!"
"We need only a few more moments!" Leia said desperately, watching the data download. They were so close. They couldn't fail now.
"Unidentified ship, this is the Devastator," the ship hailed them. "Heave to at once and prepare for a security search and interrogation."
Antilles tried to buy them some more time. "Devastator, this is the Tantive IV. We have an extravehicular malfunction. A maintenance unit is working on it now. We are a counselor ship on a diplomatic mission and we'll clear this system as soon as we have effected repairs."
"We acknowledge your transmission, Tantive IV. The Devastator will hold fire. Maintain your present course and prepare to receive Imperial investigators"
"Princess Leia, we have fallen into stinger's nest," Antilles said urgently. "There are three Imperial battle wagons in close orbit around the planet. I can't hold them for much longer."
The data finished its transmission. "That's it, we've got it," Leia said excitedly. "Get us out of here."
Antilles sent another message to the Devastator as the Tantive IV prepared to jump to hyperspace. "Devastatorwe are on a diplomatic mission and are not to be detained or diverted." He ordered his crew to put up all defensive shields and for R2D2 to get back on board.
The Devastator wasn't buying it. "Our sensors have indicated you have intercepted illegal transmissions in this star system. Heave to or we'll open fire." And the Imperial star cruiser did open fire, but the Tantive IV escaped into hyperspace.
"Set course for Tatooine," Leia ordered, not even allowing herself a sigh of relief.
"Tatooine? That's way out in the border regions," her uncle said.
"That's where we're going," Leia said. "I have to present my father's request for help to an old friend of his. We're taking a very important personage back with us to Alderaan."
* * *
Her uncle insisted Leia get some rest during the trip to Tatooine, and she reluctantly agreed. She was exhausted, so much so that she didn't even take the time to unwind her hair from the silly buns she'd put it into while playing the role of the diplomat before she fell asleep on her bed.
Some time later she awoke and left her quarters, heading to the bridge to find Antilles. "How long until reversion into normal space?" she asked him.
"We're entering normal space now," he told her.
"Captain, sensors report another ship emerging from hyperspace," one of his crew said in a panic. "Sir, we're receiving a signal! It's the Devastator!"
"Attention all crew -- battle stations!" Antilles said grimly as the Devastator didn't even give warning before it began to fire.
Leia knew her uncle would do what he could to fight, but the Tantive IV didn't have the power to escape again, not with the star cruiser prepared for it. But she had to get the plans to the Death Star into the hands of the rebellion, no matter what the cost. If she tried to flee in one of the escape pods, she'd probably be fired upon. But if there were no life signs aboard the pod, maybe they'd let it go by.
Leaving Antilles to coordinate the resistance against the stormtroopers that were beginning to board the ship, Leia ran for the labor pool. The droids had been sent there after the Tantive IV had fled, and the astromech was still programmed to obey her every order.
She was out of breath from running by the time she found the R2 unit. "There you are," she said. "Voice override. Actuating code epsilon actual. Switch to holographic recording mode." R2 beeped obediently, and she took a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. "Begin recording now.
"General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars," she began her message. "Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope. End recording, R2."
R2 beeped to acknowledge her order. "You will deliver that message and the information you are about to receive to Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet beneath us. Understand, R2? Now, prepare to record this data tape."
She took the plans she'd risked so much for and slipped the recording into R2D2 so the droid could protect them in its memory banks. "This command overrides all programming. Take an escape pod from the stern cluster and eject. Calculate planetary entry trajectory to land you at the coordinates I've given you. Deliver this message and the information I've given you at any cost. Self preservation and all other restrictions are removed. Do you have all that?" R2 beeped in agreement. "Good luck, R2."
She could hear Imperial troops closing in, so she quickly began to move to lead them away from the droid and his precious cargo. Ducking into an alcove, she hoped they'd pass her by. And she really wished she hadn't worn something so blindingly white.
"There's one," a stormtrooper said, spotting her when she risked a glance from her hiding place. "Set for stun."
He'd barely finished his statement before Leia shot him with her blaster. She tried to run, but another trooper shot her in the back. As she crumpled to the deck, stunned, she heard him say, "She'll be all right. Inform Lord Vader we have a prisoner."
When she woke up, her hands were bound before her, and she was being marched through the ship. She steeled herself against the sight of those who had fallen defending the ship. One of her armored escorts shoved her brutally in the small of the back, and she nearly fell. Turning, she gave the offending soldier a vicious look. But she could not tell if it had any effect, since the man's face was completely hidden by his helmet.
The hallway they eventually emerged into was still smoking around the edges of the smoldering cavity blasted through the hull of the fighter. A portable accessway had been sealed to it and a circlet of light showed at the far end of the tunnel, bridging space between the rebel craft and the cruiser. A shadow moved over her as she turned from inspecting the accessway, startling her despite her usually unshakable self-control. Above her towered the threatening bulk of Darth Vader. A muscle twitched in one smooth cheek, but other than that Leia didn't react. Nor was there the slightest shake in her voice.
"Darth Vader," she said coldly. "I should have known. Only you would be so bold -- and so stupid. Well, the Imperial Senate will not sit still for this. When they hear that you have attacked a diplomatic mission...."
"Senator Leia Organa," Vader rumbled softly, though strongly enough to override her protests. His pleasure at finding her was evident in the way he savored every syllable. "Don't play games with me, Your Highness," he continued ominously. "You aren't on any mercy mission this time. You passed directly through a restricted system, ignoring numerous warnings and completely disregarding orders to turn about -- until it no longer mattered."
The huge metal skull dipped close. "I know that several transmissions were beamed to this vessel by spies within that system. When we traced those transmissions back to the individuals with whom they originated, they had the poor grace to kill themselves before they could be questioned. I want to know what happened to the data they sent you."
Leia refused to allow Vader's words or his presence to have any visible effect on her. "I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped, looking away from him. "I'm a member of the Senate on a diplomatic mission to-"
"You're part of the rebel alliance," Vader declared, cutting her off accusingly. "You're also a traitor." His gaze went to a nearby officer. "Take her away."
She succeeded in reaching him with her spit, which hissed against still-hot battle armor. He wiped the offensive matter away silently, watching her with interest as she was marched through the accessway into the cruiser.
[Adapted from The Star Wars Radio Play Episode 3 - Black Knight, White Princess, and Pawns; "Star Wars: A New Hope" the movie, and Star Wars: A New Hope the novelization. GOD, DAD.]
"Princess Leia," her uncle, Raymus Antilles, captain of the ship, said, "may I say once more that I am opposed to this plan of yours?"
"If you must, Antilles," Leia sighed. She'd already heard it enough times.
"The moment we leave hyperspace and emerge in that restricted solar system we'll be in serious trouble," Antilles went on. "Diplomatic immunity or no, we'll be subject to boarding and arrest if we're caught by the Imperial starfleet."
"We either act now or use any chance the Rebel Alliance has to stop the Empire," Leia insisted. "There's no time for caution."
Fortunately, the appearance of two droids, an astromech and a golden humanoid protocol droid, spared her from any more worrying from her uncle. She understood his concerns, but since arriving home and finding that the plans to the Death Star had been successfully stolen, she knew she'd have to risk everything to receive the plans herself and deliver them back to her father.
"Ah, I believe our droids are here," Antilles said.
The astromech droid beeped in greeting. "Oh, be quiet," the protocol droid said. "Captain Antilles, may it please you, sir, I have the honor of reporting to duty. C-3PO, human relations droid." The astromech beeped indignantly. "Oh, yes, and my subordinate, R2D2."
"3PO?" Antilles said. "You were in protocol, weren't you? What are you doing with a maintenance droid for a counterpart?"
"There turned out to be little need for interpreters on this trip, Captain," C-3PO said.
Since they were in restricted space and were in need of an alibi in case they were spotted, Leia had decided to sent an astromech out on to the hull of the ship to pretend to be making repairs. She now ordered R2D2 to go to an airlock and do so, while Antilles instructed both R2 and C-3PO to restrict and protect all references to her identity and presence on the ship -- and to obey all her orders as well.
"Princess Leia, I hope this message you intend to intercept is worth the risk," Antilles said.
"It cost the Rebel Alliance over 100 lives to get this information, Captain," Leia said solemnly.
"May I ask what it is?" her uncle asked.
"Have you ever heard rumors of an Imperial strategic weapons project called Death Star?" Leia said. "We're told it's an enormous space battle station with enough firepower to destroy entire planets."
"That's incredible," Antilles said, stunned.
Before he could ask more, a transmission was beamed to the ship. "Come in, Skyhook. Come in, Skyhook," a staticky voice said.
"Skyhook here," Leia answered.
"We only have moments," came a terse voice. "Prepare to copy."
"Ready and copying. Go ahead," Leia said as the data began to transmit.
A few moments later, an alarm began to sound. "Antilles, what's that?" Leia asked.
"An Imperial cruiser," Antilles said, checking the sensors. "They've found us already!"
"We need only a few more moments!" Leia said desperately, watching the data download. They were so close. They couldn't fail now.
"Unidentified ship, this is the Devastator," the ship hailed them. "Heave to at once and prepare for a security search and interrogation."
Antilles tried to buy them some more time. "Devastator, this is the Tantive IV. We have an extravehicular malfunction. A maintenance unit is working on it now. We are a counselor ship on a diplomatic mission and we'll clear this system as soon as we have effected repairs."
"We acknowledge your transmission, Tantive IV. The Devastator will hold fire. Maintain your present course and prepare to receive Imperial investigators"
"Princess Leia, we have fallen into stinger's nest," Antilles said urgently. "There are three Imperial battle wagons in close orbit around the planet. I can't hold them for much longer."
The data finished its transmission. "That's it, we've got it," Leia said excitedly. "Get us out of here."
Antilles sent another message to the Devastator as the Tantive IV prepared to jump to hyperspace. "Devastatorwe are on a diplomatic mission and are not to be detained or diverted." He ordered his crew to put up all defensive shields and for R2D2 to get back on board.
The Devastator wasn't buying it. "Our sensors have indicated you have intercepted illegal transmissions in this star system. Heave to or we'll open fire." And the Imperial star cruiser did open fire, but the Tantive IV escaped into hyperspace.
"Set course for Tatooine," Leia ordered, not even allowing herself a sigh of relief.
"Tatooine? That's way out in the border regions," her uncle said.
"That's where we're going," Leia said. "I have to present my father's request for help to an old friend of his. We're taking a very important personage back with us to Alderaan."
* * *
Her uncle insisted Leia get some rest during the trip to Tatooine, and she reluctantly agreed. She was exhausted, so much so that she didn't even take the time to unwind her hair from the silly buns she'd put it into while playing the role of the diplomat before she fell asleep on her bed.
Some time later she awoke and left her quarters, heading to the bridge to find Antilles. "How long until reversion into normal space?" she asked him.
"We're entering normal space now," he told her.
"Captain, sensors report another ship emerging from hyperspace," one of his crew said in a panic. "Sir, we're receiving a signal! It's the Devastator!"
"Attention all crew -- battle stations!" Antilles said grimly as the Devastator didn't even give warning before it began to fire.
Leia knew her uncle would do what he could to fight, but the Tantive IV didn't have the power to escape again, not with the star cruiser prepared for it. But she had to get the plans to the Death Star into the hands of the rebellion, no matter what the cost. If she tried to flee in one of the escape pods, she'd probably be fired upon. But if there were no life signs aboard the pod, maybe they'd let it go by.
Leaving Antilles to coordinate the resistance against the stormtroopers that were beginning to board the ship, Leia ran for the labor pool. The droids had been sent there after the Tantive IV had fled, and the astromech was still programmed to obey her every order.
She was out of breath from running by the time she found the R2 unit. "There you are," she said. "Voice override. Actuating code epsilon actual. Switch to holographic recording mode." R2 beeped obediently, and she took a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. "Begin recording now.
"General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars," she began her message. "Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope. End recording, R2."
R2 beeped to acknowledge her order. "You will deliver that message and the information you are about to receive to Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet beneath us. Understand, R2? Now, prepare to record this data tape."
She took the plans she'd risked so much for and slipped the recording into R2D2 so the droid could protect them in its memory banks. "This command overrides all programming. Take an escape pod from the stern cluster and eject. Calculate planetary entry trajectory to land you at the coordinates I've given you. Deliver this message and the information I've given you at any cost. Self preservation and all other restrictions are removed. Do you have all that?" R2 beeped in agreement. "Good luck, R2."
She could hear Imperial troops closing in, so she quickly began to move to lead them away from the droid and his precious cargo. Ducking into an alcove, she hoped they'd pass her by. And she really wished she hadn't worn something so blindingly white.
"There's one," a stormtrooper said, spotting her when she risked a glance from her hiding place. "Set for stun."
He'd barely finished his statement before Leia shot him with her blaster. She tried to run, but another trooper shot her in the back. As she crumpled to the deck, stunned, she heard him say, "She'll be all right. Inform Lord Vader we have a prisoner."
When she woke up, her hands were bound before her, and she was being marched through the ship. She steeled herself against the sight of those who had fallen defending the ship. One of her armored escorts shoved her brutally in the small of the back, and she nearly fell. Turning, she gave the offending soldier a vicious look. But she could not tell if it had any effect, since the man's face was completely hidden by his helmet.
The hallway they eventually emerged into was still smoking around the edges of the smoldering cavity blasted through the hull of the fighter. A portable accessway had been sealed to it and a circlet of light showed at the far end of the tunnel, bridging space between the rebel craft and the cruiser. A shadow moved over her as she turned from inspecting the accessway, startling her despite her usually unshakable self-control. Above her towered the threatening bulk of Darth Vader. A muscle twitched in one smooth cheek, but other than that Leia didn't react. Nor was there the slightest shake in her voice.
"Darth Vader," she said coldly. "I should have known. Only you would be so bold -- and so stupid. Well, the Imperial Senate will not sit still for this. When they hear that you have attacked a diplomatic mission...."
"Senator Leia Organa," Vader rumbled softly, though strongly enough to override her protests. His pleasure at finding her was evident in the way he savored every syllable. "Don't play games with me, Your Highness," he continued ominously. "You aren't on any mercy mission this time. You passed directly through a restricted system, ignoring numerous warnings and completely disregarding orders to turn about -- until it no longer mattered."
The huge metal skull dipped close. "I know that several transmissions were beamed to this vessel by spies within that system. When we traced those transmissions back to the individuals with whom they originated, they had the poor grace to kill themselves before they could be questioned. I want to know what happened to the data they sent you."
Leia refused to allow Vader's words or his presence to have any visible effect on her. "I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped, looking away from him. "I'm a member of the Senate on a diplomatic mission to-"
"You're part of the rebel alliance," Vader declared, cutting her off accusingly. "You're also a traitor." His gaze went to a nearby officer. "Take her away."
She succeeded in reaching him with her spit, which hissed against still-hot battle armor. He wiped the offensive matter away silently, watching her with interest as she was marched through the accessway into the cruiser.
[Adapted from The Star Wars Radio Play Episode 3 - Black Knight, White Princess, and Pawns; "Star Wars: A New Hope" the movie, and Star Wars: A New Hope the novelization. GOD, DAD.]