Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #15

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In another area of the hangar, Threepio watches as Artoo is raised up

into Luke's X-wing fighter.

THREEPIO:

Artoo, you take good care of

Master Luke now, understand? And

... do take good care of yourself.

Oh, dear, oh, dear.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

The fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth rages on. The

Imperial walkers continue their slow, steady assault on the Rebel base,

firing lasers as they lumber ever onward. In the snow trench, Rebel

troops fire large bazookalike guns and dishlike ray guns as explosions

erupt around them. A gun tower is hit by a laser bolt and instantly

explodes. Another blast destroys a ray gun.

INT. IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER - COCKPIT

General Veers studies various readouts on his control panel.

VEERS:

All troops will debark for ground

assault. Prepare to target the

main generator.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

Luke's speeder and Rogue Two fly in formation, banking from right to

left and flying above the erupting battlefield. Flak bursts all around

them.

INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE LEADER - COCKPIT

Luke, glancing over, sees Rogue Two on his left. His ship shudders as

flak bursts nearby.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Rogue Two, are you all right?

INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO - COCKPIT

ZEV:

(into comlink)

Yeah. I'm with you, Rogue Leader.

INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE LEADER - COCKPIT

LUKE:

(into comlink)

We'll set harpoon. I'll cover for you.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

The two speeders race across the horizon toward the giant walkers.

INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO - COCKPIT

ZEV:

(into comlink)

Coming around.

INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE LEADER - COCKPIT

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Watch that cross fire, boys.

INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO - COCKPIT

ZEV:

(into comlink)

Set for position three.

(to gunner)

Steady.

LUKE:

(over comlink)

Stay tight and low.

EXT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO

Luke's speeder moves in formation with Rogue Two, when suddenly Zev's

speeder is hit by a laser bolt. His ship bucks violently under the

impact and the cockpit explodes in a ball of flame.

Spewing smoke, the speeder hurtles toward a looming walker. Before

they collide. Rogue Two explodes in a million flaming pieces.

INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE LEADER - COCKPIT

Desperately, Luke works the controls of his flak-buffeted ship.

Suddenly, the speeder is rocked by a huge explosion. Luke struggles

with the controls with a look of terror on his face. The speeder fills

with smoke, and electrical sparks jump about the cockpit.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Hobbie, I've been hit!

INT. REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, the corridor is

strangely quiet and empty. Running footsteps echo through the freezing

hallway, then Han appears. Cracks have appeared in some of the walls

and some pipes have broken, sending hot steam billowing into the

underground hallways. Han hurries into the command center. It is a

shambles, but some people are still at their posts. As he enters, a

gigantic cave-in almost obliterates the room. He finds Leia and

Threepio near one of the control boards.

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