Survivors of Endor

A Star Wars Story by Tanner H.

 

Dexen looked into the sky as two X-wings soared overhead. The sound of workers echoed across the forest as they tried to rebuild the destroyed Imperial base into an Alliance installation. Just a week ago the Battle of Endor had taken place, where the Rebellion destroyed the second Death Star and the Emperor. Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa had left the planet shortly after the victory celebration in order to establish a new headquarters. A handful of rebels remained on Endor, preparing for whatever the remains of the Empire would throw at them next.

 

Dexen had been a part of the Rebel Alliance for years, and had lived through multiple battles. He had escaped Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth, and helped destroy the shield generator in the Battle of Endor. His life had been full of action, and he liked it that way. He was a somewhat handsome young man with brown hair and blue eyes.

“Hey, Dexen,” a Sullustan called. “Hurry over to Camp 9. We think we might have Imperial company soon!”

Dexen followed the Sullustan to the remains of a destroyed Imperial outpost, which the Rebellion had renamed Camp 9. Inside the tattered structure was a hologram projector. Rebels surrounded the hologram, discussing a plan.

“Imperial AT-AT walkers have been deployed in the East,” a rebel leader said. “We must set up uplinks along near the vehicle so our Y-wings can target it.”

“Why do we need uplinks? Can’t the Y-wings just locate the walkers on their own?” someone asked.

“The treetops are too thick for Y-wing pilots to see through. Plus, we don’t want to risk destroying an entire Ewok village,” the leader stated. “Now, move out! We don’t have much time.”

Dexen followed soldiers as they carried large uplink computers towards the East, where unseen walkers lurked. Last time Dexen had encountered walkers, they destroyed Echo Base. He hoped they wouldn’t destroy this Rebellion outpost as well.

 

“Uplink activated!” shouted a rebel soldier. “We need to guard against Imperial attacks.”

Dexen stood next to the uplink along with a few other soldiers. The tall computer beeped and booped as it lay against a tree. Another uplink was being set up nearby. Dexen peered through the forest and watched a distant AT-AT walker take a step towards its destination. Stormtroopers ran by its side, prepared to shut down the uplinks.

“Get ready to hold off the stormtroopers,” Dexen said. Within minutes laserfire broke out. Stormtroopers began closing in on the uplink. Dexen fired a laser from his DH-17 blaster. A blast mark appeared in a stormtrooper’s helmet and toppled to the ground. Dexen fired another shot, hitting a charging stormtrooper in the arm. The Imperial soldier shouted and clutched his arm. Dexen ran and knocked the stormtrooper to the ground.

“I can’t hold them off much longer!” a voice called from the other uplink.

“We’ve got enough troops here,” a rebel said. “Dexen, go and defend the other uplink!”

Dexen ran through the battle towards the second uplink. He quickly fired shots as he went, but almost missed every time. As he reached the uplink station, he stopped in his tracks. He almost bumped into a stormtrooper who was about to disable the uplink.

“There’s another rebel! Fire!” the trooper said, turning to face Dexen. The Imperial was thrown to the ground by Dexen. The rebel quickly reactivated the uplink and fired shots at incoming Imperials.

“Y-wings have targeted the walker,” a voice informed Dexen on his transmitter. Explosions sounded throughout the forest as Y-wings dropped bombs on the walker.

“The shields are down! Focus all fire on the walker!” rebels began shouting. Dexen ran towards the walker, firing shots at its underbelly. A rebel demolition trooper fired a rocket at the walker, exploding the cockpit. The AT-AT fell forwards, crushing stormtroopers. Rebels cheered, but stopped once they spotted a second walker.

“Uplinks have been activated in the Ewok village,” a voice said over Dexen’s transmitter. “Now, defend them.”

“To the trees!” a rebel said, but was shot before he could reach his destination. Dexen hurried up the primitive ramp that spiraled up the trunk of a huge tree. He quickly reached an uplink station guarded by a single rebel.

“Hold off the stormtroopers,” instructed the rebel soldier. Dexen recognized this soldier. His name was Jarron.

“That’s what I’m planning to do,” Dexen responded. Soon stormtroopers were running up the ramp, ready to shut down the uplink. Dexen fired, knocking over trooper after trooper. However, there were too many enemies.

“Fall back!” Jarron shouted. “There’s too many of them!”

Dexen followed Jarron to the end of the wooden platform. Behind them were dozens of aggressive stormtroopers, and ahead of them was a hundred foot drop.

“What do we do?” Dexen asked.

“There’s a zipline!” Jarron shouted. “Hop on!”

He was right; a zipline was not far from where they were standing. The Ewoks used primitive ziplines to go from one end of the village to the other. As Jarron leaped towards the zipline, he was shot. His body hit the wood floor and then rolled off the edge. Dexen didn’t have time to mourn. Stormtroopers usually have bad aim, but they eventually hit their target. Dexen knew he would be next if he didn’t do something. He charged towards the zipline, ducking as a laser whizzed past his hair. He jumped on the zipline and sped away from the troopers. He could hear them disabling the uplink. At least he had escaped with his life.

 

He landed on another Ewok platform. The stormtroopers were no longer interested in him. There was still one more uplink. There was still one more chance to destroy the last walker. Dexen ran down another ramp towards the second uplink, which was located below the Ewok village. This one was crowded with a handful of rebels. They all knew that this uplink was their last chance.

“Only a few more minutes before the Y-wings can lock onto their targets,” a scruffy rebel informed. Stormtroopers were spotted in the distance. The rebels open fired. Lasers flew everywhere. Dexen shot two troopers in the head, and dodged incoming lasers.

“Y-wings have targeted the AT-AT walkers,” Dexen’s transmitter declared. The last walker became vulnerable as rebel spaceships dropped bombs on its metal body.

“Take it down!” chanted rebels. A rebel demolition soldier was about to use his rocket launcher on the walker when he was shot by a stormtrooper. Dexen fired back, hitting the Imperial trooper. Dexen grabbed the rocket launcher and without hesitation fired. He was thrown back as a rocket blasted out and hit the walker. The AT-AT toppled over in a brilliant explosion.

“The AT-AT is down! Retreat!” a stormtrooper commanded as he fled from the scene.

“Looks like the Rebel Alliance lived to see another day!” a rebel shouted.

“We are true survivors of Endor,” Dexen said with a grin.