General Rikan looks up from the screen grimly Princess We have a visitor." He says as Leia and Han enter the control room. "We picked up something outside the base in zone twelve moving east its metal."

"Then it couldn't be one of those creatures who attacked Luke and Catherine." Leia replied worriedly.

"It could be a speeder? One of ours?" Han asked hopefully.

"Wait I've got a signal it weak but something is comming through." The commander in the controls replied.

3Po stepped up "sir I am fluient in six million forms of communication that signal is not one used by the rebellion. It could be an imperial code." 3Po replied the transmission ends.

"Whatever it is it isn't friendly. Come on Chewie let's check it out!" Han replies.

Rikan "send rouges ten and eleven to section three eight." Rikan orders as Han and Chewie go to investigate.

It doesn't take the droid probe long to spot Chewie and just as it is about to fire at him Han shoots it with his blaster causing it to explode. The General and Leia listen intently to Han as he reports over the comlink. "I'm afraid there's not much left."

"What was it?" Leia asks anxiously.

"A droid of some sort. I didn't hit it very hard it must have had some sort of self destruction." Han replied.

"An imperial probe." Leia replies unhappily.

"It's a pretty good bet that the Empire knows we are here." Han replied over the comlink.

"I'll start the evacuation." The General says turning to Leia who nods.

Meanwhile on Darth Vader's ship the Destroyer the Admiral was being hailed by his captain by the name of Piet. "Admiral."

"Yes captain?" Admiral Ozzel replied.

"I think we've got something Sir. The report is only a fragment from a droid in the Hoth system but its the best we've got." Captain Piet replied.

"We've got thousands of probe droids searching the galaxy I want proof not leads!" Ozzel replied irritatedly.

"But sir the visual on the Hoth system is showing signs of life." Captain Piet replied.

"It could be nothing. If we followed up on every lead. We'd get no where." Commander Ozzel replied getting more irritated by the minute.

"But sir, the Hoth system is suppose to be void of human life." Captain Piet replied.

Upon hearing this Vader looked at the screen and can see a appeaser approaching a base in the far off distance. "you found something?"

"Yes sir." Captain Pieet replied nervously.

Vader exzamines the screen "that's it the rebels are there."

"Sir there are so many uncharted settlements it could be smugglers, it could be..." Ozzel starts to argue but Vader cuts him short by holding his hand up as a way of saying "silence."

"That is the system the rebels are there and I'm sure young Skywalker is among them. General set your course for the Hoth system." Vader replies.

Meanwhile back at the base the fighters were being given their orders concerning how to protect the transports. Groups seven and ten will stay behind to fly the speeders. As soon as each transport is loaded evacuation control will give clearance for immediate launch." The commanding officer was telling the others.

While everyone is working on the evacuation plans Han and Chewie are frantically working on the millennium falcon trying desperately to get the lifters. Jumping to the floor he calls to Chewie "ok that's it, try it." Chewie does as he is told and a small fire breaks out. "Turn it off! Turn it off!" Han calls to Chewie.

Meanwhile, Luke is all geared up and the medical droid is standing by. "Sir it will take quite a while to evacuate the T-47's." The droid informed him.

"Well forget the heavy equipment there is plenty of time to get the smaller modules on the transports." Luke told the droid.

"Take care sir." The droid replied.

"Thanks!" Luke said with a slight smile.

Luke walked over to where Han and Chewie were still trying to repair the falcon's right lifter. "Take care of yourself Chewie ok?" Luke says and Chewie responds by giving him a huge hug.

"There has got to be a reason for it." Han was telling a repair droid. "Check it at the other end. Wait a second." He tells the droid when he spots Luke. Hay kid. You alright?" Han asks with genuine concern.

"Yeah." Luke replied.

"Be careful." Han warns Luke.

"You too." Luke replies as he walks off. He pauses a moment to look back at Han and Chewie for a moment before heading to his ship.

"General there is a fleet of star destroyers coming out of hyperspace in sector four." A commander tells General Rikan.

"Reroute all power to the energy shield we've got to hold them till the transports are away. Prepare for a ground assault." Rikan orders the officer.

Back on Vader's star destroyer General Verrs is hesitantly awaiting to inform Vader of their progress. He watches nervously as the cubical Vader is in replaces his helmet back on his head. "What is it Commander?" Vader demands as the chair he is sitting in turns to face the General.

"My Lord the fleet had moved out of light speed. Com-scan has detected an energy field protecting an area around the sixth planet of the Hoth system. The energy field is strong enough to withhold any bombardment." General Verrs replied.

"The rebels are alerted to our presence. Admerial Ozzel out of light speed too close to the system." Vader replied somewhat irritatedly.

"The admiral thought surprise was the wises corse of action." General Verrs replied nervously.

"He is as clumsy as he is stupid!" Vader replies his irritation clearly showing. "General prepare your troops for a ground attack."

"Yes sir." General Verrs replies and he quickly rushes out to carry out Lord Vader's orders.

Vader turns his attention to the communication screen and Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett appear in the screen.

"Sir we have come out of light speed and are..." the Admiral is unable to finish his sentence as Vader uses the force to choke him.

"You have failed me for the last time Admiral." As Admiral Ozzel falls to the floor dead Vader turns his attention to Commander Piett. "Captain Piett."

"Yes sir?" The Commander replies nervously.

"Make ready to land our troops beyond the energy field and deploy the fleet so that nothing gets beyond that system. You are in command now Admiral Piett."

"Thank you sir." Piett replies somewhat nervous and anxious about carrying out his new duties. He did not wish to end up like Admerial Ozzel.

Back on Hoth Leia is informing the pilots of the plan. "All troop carriers will assemble by the Northern entrance. The heavy transport ship will leave here as soon as they are loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only stay open for a short time so you will have to stay close to your transports."

"Only two ships against a star destroyer?" Hobbie asked confused.

"The ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure enemy ships will be out of your flight path. When you've gotten past the energy shield proceed directly to the Rendezvous point understand?"

"Yes Ma'am!" The fighter pilots all replied in unison.

"Captain is there a ship that I can fly?" I asked hoping that I could somehow be helpful instead of being in the way.

"Don't be ridiculous kid this isn't a game. It's far to dangerous for you. Get onboard one of the transports and leave the fighting to the real fighters." The Captain replied. I frowned I hated it when people couldn't see past my age. "I can help."

"It's too far to dangerous a task for a young child." The captain replied once more.

"Do I look like I care about the danger? I want to help! I know how to fly a ship & I know a lot about those At-At's out there."

"Look, your a nice kid and I admire your tenacity but it's just too much of a risk. We need experienced fighters to protect those transports. Now run along kid, I've got work to do." The Commander replied.

I frowned "fine get yourselves killed why should I care?" I replied as I stormed off.

"Good luck to you all." Leia replied.

"All right everyone to their stations." The officer ordered.

"Their primary target will be the energy shields." The General was informing the group.

"Would you kindly inform your Commander that I'm not some helpless child? I was raised by the Empire for several years. I know how those At-at' our there operate and I know their weak spots. If he'd just give me ship I could assist in taking them down." I replied irritatedly.

"I'm sorry Catherine but i agree with the Commander. Its far to dangerous a task for someone of your age. No, it would be better for everyone if you got to a transport so we don't have to worry about you." Leia replied.

"Sir a group of rebels are attempting to leave the system."

"Ah good our first catch of the day." The commander replied with a smile.

Unfortunately, the destroyer was hit and sent spinning out of control and the rebels were able to escape.

"How are you feeling sir?" A rebel by the name of Dacck asked Luke.

"Better and you?" Luke replied.

"I feel as if I could take on the entire empire myself." Dacck replied.

"I know how you feel." Luke replied with a smile.

"There are imperial walkers on the north ridge." A controller called to the group.

"Echo station five-seven we are on our way." Luke replied.