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princess is projected from Artoo’s face. BEN I seem to have found it.
    Luke stops his work as the lovely girl’s image flickers before his eyes.
    LEIA General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.
    There is a little static and the transmission is cut short. Old Ben leans back and scratches his head. He silently puffs on a tarnished chrome water pipe. Luke has stars in his eyes. BEN You must learn the ways of the Force if you’re to come with me to Alderaan.
    LUKE (laughing) Alderaan? I’m not going to Alderaan. I’ve got to go home. It’s late, I’m in for it as it is.
    BEN I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I’m getting too old for this sort of thing.
    LUKE I can’t get involved! I’ve got work to do! It’s not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. It’s such a long way from here.
    BEN That’s your uncle talking.
    LUKE (sighing) Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?
    BEN Learn about the Force, Luke.
    LUKE Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to M os Eisley or wherever you’re going. BEN You must do what you feel is right, of course. EXTERIOR SPACE.
    An Imperial Stardestroyer heads toward the evil planet-like battle station the Death Star!
    INTERIOR DEATH STAR —CONFERENCE ROOM.
    Eight Imperial senators and generals sit around a black conference table. Imperial stormtroopers stand guard around the room. Commander Tagge, a young, slimy-looking general, is speaking.
    TAGGE Until this battle station is fully operational we are vulnerable. The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They’re more dangerous than you realize.
    The bitter Admiral Motti twists nervously in his chair. MOTTI Dangerous to your starfleet, Commander, not to this battle station!
    TAGGE The Rebellion will continue to gain a support in the Imperial Senate as long as….
    Suddenly all heads turn as Commander Tagge’s speech is cut short and the Grand Moff Tarkin, governor of the Imperial outland regions, enters. He is followed by his powerful ally, The Sith Lord, Darth Vader. All of the generals stand and bow before the thin, evil-looking governor as he takes his place at the head of the table. The Dark Lord stands behind him. TARKIN The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I’ve just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.
    TAGGE That’s impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?
    TARKIN The regional governors now have direct control over territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.
    TAGGE And what of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it. VADER The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands. MOTTI Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they’ve obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!
    VADER Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
    MOTTI Don’t try to frighten us with your sorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not