MASSASSI OUTPOST - JUNGLE: All that can be seen of the fortress is a lone guard standing on a small pedestal jutting out above the dense jungle. The muted gruesome crying sounds that naturally permeate this eerie purgatory are overwhelmed by the thundering din of ion rockets as four silver starships catapult from the foliage in a tight formation and disappears into the morning cloud cover.

MASSASSI WAR ROOM: The princess, Threepio, and a field commander stand quietly before the giant display showing the planet Yavin and its four moons. The red dot that represents the Death Star moves ever closer to the system. A series of green dots appear around the fourth moon. A din of indistinct chatter fills the war room.

MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE: Stand-by alert. Death Star approaching. Estimated time to firing range, fifteen minutes.

The Death Star slowly moves behind the massive yellow surface of Yavin in the foreground, as many X-wing fighters flying in formation zoom toward us and out of the frame.

Light from a distant sun creates an eerie atmospheric glow around a huge planet, Yavin. Rebel fighters flying in formation settle ominously in the foreground and very slowly pull away.

RED LEADER STARSHIP: Red Leader lowers his visor and adjusts his gun sights, looking to each side at his wing men.

RED LEADER: All wings report in.

RED TEN: Red Ten standing by.

Biggs checks his fighter's controls, alert and ready for combat.

RED SEVEN: (over Biggs' headset) Red Seven standing by.

BIGGS: Red Three standing by.

PORKINS: Red Six standing by.

RED NINE: (over headset) Red Nine standing by.

WEDGE: Red Two standing by.

RED ELEVEN: (over headset) Red Eleven standing by.

LUKE: Red Five standing by.

LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER: Artoo-Detoo, in position outside of the fighter, turns his head from side to side and makes beeping sounds.

RED LEADER: Lock S-foils in attack position.

The group of X-wing fighters move in formation toward the Death Star, unfolding the wings and locking them in the "X" position.

RED LEADER: (over headset) We're passing through their magnetic field. . . . . Hold tight!

Luke adjusts his controls as he concentrates on the approaching Death Star. The ship begins to be buffeted slightly.

RED LEADER: (over headset) Switch your deflectors on. . . . . Double front.

The fighters, now X-shaped darts, move in formation. The Death Star now appears to be a small moon growing rapidly in size as the Rebel fighters approach. Complex patterns on the metallic surface begin to become visible. A large dish antenna is built into the surface on one side.

Wedge is amazed and slightly frightened at the awesome spectacle.

WEDGE: Look at the size of that thing!

RED LEADER: (over headset) Cut the chatter, Red Two. . . . . Accelerate to attack speed. This is it, boys!