Alarms sounds in Echo Base as troops, droids, and T-47s ready for battle. R2 and 3PO, en route to the medical center to check on Luke, stop at a sealed door, behind which attacking wampas have been lured with ultra-high sound. In the medical center, 2-1B removes Luke's bandages. Despite facial scars he is fine, but his reunion kiss with Leia is interrupted by the droids' arrival. He tells them he is going to Dagobah. Han enters with Chewie, tells Luke he looks strong enough to wrestle a gundark, and hints Leia arranged to keep him here. She says Rieekan grounded all ships due to the probot, kissing Luke to make Han jealous. The Executor and five Star Destroyers arrive at Hoth. Veers reports that a defense field is in effect, proof the Rebels know they're here. Angry that Ozzel exited hyperspace too close, Vader strangles him with the Force and puts Piett in charge. As evacuation of Hoth begins, Leia assigns fighter escorts to transport ships. Derek "Hobbie" Klivian, a T-47 pilot, doubts their effectiveness, but an ion cannon will back them. In orbit, Star Destroyer Avenger spots Echo C-130 , a fleeing transport, and Captain Needa tries to catch it. The ion cannon rocks the Avenger, and Echo C-130 escapes, but the Rebels have little hope. As Han prepares to leave to re-pay Jabba, Luke bids farewell and joins his gunner, Dack Ralter, in a T-47 on the South Slope, then leads Wedge, Zev, Hobbie, and others into battle. Rebels man guns as Point Rider 5 warns of approaching AT-ATs. The Walkers decimate Rebel defenses and T-47s are unable to pierce their armor, so many are shot down. Luke's speeder is hit and Dack is killed. As the base collapses in the attack, Han and Chewie ready the Falcon to leave. Rieekan and Leia worry they'll be unable to defend the other transports, but have no choice but to quicken the evacuation. Unable to shoot the Walkers, Luke tells his team to use tow cables on their legs. Wedge topples an AT-AT, but Luke is downed while covering Zev's speeder for a second attack. Luke gets out of his speeder as Veers' Walkers approach the Rebel power generator at Point 3.2.5, with him and his speeder directly in their path.
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