Star Wars_ Episode V_ The Empire Strikes Back - Donald F. Glut [15]
As soon as Darth Vader had spoken, his men set about to launch his fearful plan.
The Imperial Probe Droid raised a large antenna from its buglike head and sent out a piercing, high-frequency signal. The robot's scanners had reacted to a lifeform hidden behind a great dune of snow and noted the appearance of a brown Wookiee head and the sound of a deep-throated growl. The blasters that had been built into the probe robot took aim at the furry giant. But before the robot had a chance to fire, a red beam from a hand blaster exploded from behind the Imperial Probe Droid and nicked its darkly finished hull. As he ducked behind a large snow dune, Han Solo noticed Chewbacca still hidden, and then watched as the robot spun around in midair to face him. So far the ruse was working and now he was the target. Han had barely moved out of range as the floating machine fired, blasting chunks of snow from the edge of his dune. He fired again, hitting it square on with the beam of his weapon. Then he heard a high-pitched whine coming from the deadly machine, and in an instant the Imperial Probe Droid burst into a billion or more flaming pieces.
'... I'm afraid there's not much left,' Han said over the comlink as he concluded his report to the underground base.
Princess Leia and General Rieekan were still manning the console where they had maintained constant communication with Han. 'What is it?' Leia asked.
'Droid of some kind,' he answered. 'I didn't hit it that hard. It must have had a self-destruct.'
Leia paused as she considered this unwelcome piece of information. 'An Imperial droid,' she said, betraying some trepidation.
'If it was,' Han warned, 'the Empire surely knows we're here.'
General Rieekan shook his head slowly. 'We'd better start to evacuate the planet.'
= IV =
SIX ominous shapes appeared in the black space of the Hoth system and loomed like vast demons of destruction, ready to unleash the furies of their Imperial weapons. Inside the largest of the six Imperial Star Destroyers, Darth Vader sat alone in a small spherical room. A single shaft of light gleamed on his black helmet as he sat motionless in his raised meditation chamber.
As General Veers approached, the sphere opened slowly, the upper half lifting like a jagged-toothed mechanical jaw. To Veers, the dark figure seated inside the mouthlike cocoon hardly seemed alive, though a powerful aura of sheer evil emanated from him, sending a chilling fear through the officer.
Uncertain of his own courage, Veers took a step forward. He had a message to deliver but felt prepared to wait for hours if necessary rather than disturb Vader's meditation.
But Vader spoke immediately. 'What is it, Veers?'
'My lord,' the general replied, choosing each word with care, 'the fleet has moved out of light-speed. Corn-Scan has detected an energy field protecting an area of the sixth planet in the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment.'
Vader stood, rising to his full two-meter height, his cloak swaying against the floor. 'So, the Rebel scum are alerted to our presence.' Furious, he clenched his black-gloved hands into fists. 'Admiral Ozzel came out of light-speed too close to the system.'
'He felt surprise was a wiser-'He's as clumsy as he is stupid,' Vader cut in, breathing heavily. 'A clean bombardment is impossible through their energy field. Prepare your troops for a surface attack.'
With military precision, General Veers turned and marched out of the meditation room, leaving behind an enraged Darth Vader. Alone in the chamber, Vader activated a large viewscreen that showed a brightly lit image of his Star Destroyer's vast bridge.
Admiral Ozzel, responding to Vader's summons, stepped forward, his face almost filling the Dark Lord's monitor screen. There was trepidation in Ozzel's voice when he announced, 'Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light-speed-But Vader's reply was addressed to the officer standing