Han Solo is still captured, but the Rebels have gained valuable intelligence that might just put an end to the Galactic Civil War. Can the Rebels turn this war around and win, or will darkness overtake the galaxy forever??
The galaxy is in a state of upheaval. The Empire launched a massive counter-attack on the Rebel Alliance on the ice planet of Hoth, located deep in the Anoat sector, destroying major Alliance materials and personnel, potentially crippling the movement and ending the Galactic Civil War. Rebel leaders Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker were all personally affected by the war when Darth Vader’s plan to capture Luke Skywalker, and lure him to the Dark Side, came to fruition on Bespin. Han Solo was captured and turned over to Boba Fett, who brought him to Jabba the Hutt to collect the massive bounty on him; Luke Skywalker lost a hand in the battle against Darth Vader, but also learned that he was the son of Vader; Leia has seen the movement she has led massively damaged while losing the people around her, while still mourning the loss of her own planet.
But this upheaval has not only affected the Empire and Rebellion; criminal enterprises have been hurt, too. Leia Organa and Chewbacca’s efforts to infiltrate Black Sun has led to the loss of their leader, Prince Xizor, while Dash Rendar and Luke Skywalker have made moves to hurt Jabba the Hutt’s enterprise, all in the name of rescuing Han Solo. Luke and Leia develop a complex plan to extract Captain Solo from Jabba, which involves their entire cell, moving them into position within Jabba’s own palace. First, Lando would go in dressed as a bounty hunter; he would soon be followed by C-3PO and R2-D2, carrying a message from Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker; and, finally, Leia Organa, disguised as Boushh, and Chewbacca, disguised as her prisoner, would extract Solo, the droids, and Calrissian. Unfortunately, this plan blows up in their face: Jabba the Hutt sees right through Leia’s disguise, imprisoning and enslaving her as a replacement for his recently deceased dancer, Oola. Han, Luke, and Chewbacca are captured as well, sentenced to death by the hands of the Sarlacc in the Pit of Carkoon.
On a Sail Barge, Luke is able to put his new Jedi training (and green lightsaber!) to the test, as he tears through Jabba’s guards, bringing his criminal empire to its knees. At the same time, Leia has positioned herself with a chain around Jabba’s neck, choking the life out of the grotesque gangster. The crew escapes, leaving Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO to meet with the Rebel fleet at a rendezvous point, while Luke travels with R2 to see Yoda on Dagobah. After years of training Jedi, fighting as a General, and watching over Luke, Yoda is in the twilight of his life. He confirms to Luke that Vader is indeed his father, and charges the young Jedi to confront Vader, hopefully ending the war. If Luke is able to best both Darth Sidious and Darth Vader, he can end the line of Sith that restarted with Darth Bane and Darth Zannah one thousand years ago. This steels Luke’s resolve to confront Vader, hopefully awakening the latent light that still exists within him, the same light that was sensed by his mother, and Vader’s former wife, Padmé Amidala.
Meanwhile, the Empire is planning their greatest counter-attack yet. Darth Vader visits Moff Jerjerrod on the second Death Star, asking about the status of the building. The first Death Star suffered great setbacks, ranging from internal sabotage, the transformation of Galen Marek, Rebel attacks, and finally direct battle with Rebel forces, causing the station to take almost 20 full years to be completed. This new station moves more quickly with far fewer problems, being built over a period closer to four years. This second Death Star is a trap: Emperor Sheev Palpatine, with his advisor High Admiral Mitth’raw’nuruodo, has leaked information about the battle station to the Rebel Alliance. According to the information, the station is incomplete, unguarded, and will soon be visited by the Emperor himself. This information is too good for the Rebels to pass up, so they move their fleet from Sullust to attack position.
Based on the information gained by Bothan spies, but really leaked by Thrawn, the Rebels send a ground team to the Sanctuary Moon of Endor to destroy a shield generator that operates a defensive perimeter around the station, which would allow the fleet to move in for a kill shot. On the way, they come across the natives of the sanctuary moon, called Ewoks. Leia and C-3PO bring the Ewoks to their cause, asking them to join in one final battle against the Empire. In quiet moments, Luke reveals to Leia that they are twins, separated at birth; Leia then turns to Han for comfort later that same night. The next day, the true battle begins. The Ewoks and the Rebels are able to bring down the shield generator and destroy some of the Imperial forces stationed on Endor.
During the ground mission, Luke Skywalker separates from the crew, turning himself over to Darth Vader to attempt to bring him back to the light. Vader brings Luke aboard the Death Star, where Rebel and Imperial forces battle to the death just outside, to face his final destiny. After Palpatine fails to seduce Luke to the Dark Side, Luke and Darth Vader begin to duel in a lightsaber battle, their third battle during the war. As the battle drags on, Vader is able to get a rise out of Luke, threatening Leia. Luke draws on the Dark Side, battering Darth Vader to the ground; thankfully, not long after, Luke realizes what is happening and withdraws. With the threat of the Dark Side lingering around him, Luke refuses to continue fighting and throws his blade away, allowing him to be struck with Sheev’s incredible Force lightning powers. This finally brings Vader’s goodness to light, and Vader sacrifices himself to throw Palpatine over a railing on the Death Star. Unfortunately, the damage to Anakin Skywalker is extensive, and after a few moments shared with his son, he passes into the Force.
As Luke returns to the Sanctuary Moon, he is reunited with Luke, Leia, Wedge Antilles, Lando Calrissian, and the droids, and all of the Rebels find themselves celebrating. The second Death Star has been destroyed, along with the Emperor and his fierce right hand man, Darth Vader. Imperial leadership across the galaxy will reel with the loss of their commander, leading more planets to throw off the shackles of imprisonment and join the Rebels in their New Republic. As the celebration continues, Luke sees that he is not alone: Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Ben Kenobi all look approvingly over him and his friends, enjoying the end of the Sith and the birth of a new Republic.
But, in the not too distant galaxy, monstrous aliens with horrifying technology threaten an Imperial holdout, and the New Republic finds itself with its first moral crisis….
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor!
Galactic Civil War Era: A New Hope | Scoundrels | Allegiance | Choices of One | Ruins of Dantooine | Honor Among Thieves | Splinter of the Mind’s Eye | The Empire Strikes Back | Shadows of the Empire