Luke's ship streaks ever close to the exhaust port. Luke looks at the Death Star surface streaking by. Artoo-Detoo turns his head from side to side, beeping in anticipation. The three TIE fighters, manned by Vader and his two wingmen, follow Luke's X-wing down the trench. Vader maneuvers his controls as he looks at his doomed target. He presses the fire buttons on his control sticks. Laserfire shoots toward Luke's X-wing fighter.

A large burst of Vader's laserfire engulfs Artoo. The arms go limp on the smoking little droid as he makes a high-pitched sound. Luke looks frantically back over his shoulder at Artoo. Smoke billows out around little Artoo and sparks begin to fly.

LUKE: I've lost Artoo!

Artoo's beeping sounds die out.

MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM: Leia and the others stare intently at the projected screen, while Threepio watches the Princess. Lights representing the Death Star and targets glow brightly.

MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE: The Death Star has cleared the planet. The Death Star has cleared the planet.

DEATH STAR - CONTROL ROOM: Tarkin glares at the projected target screen.

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Rebel base, in range.

TARKIN: You may fire when ready.

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Commence primary ignition.

An officer reaches up and pushes buttons on the control panel, as green lighted buttons turn to red.

The three TIE fighters zoom down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Luke, never breaking formation. Luke looks anxiously at the exhaust port. Vader adjusts his control sticks, checking his projected targeting screen. Luke's ship barrels down the trench. Vader's targeting computer swings around into position. Vader takes careful aim on Luke's X-wing fighter.

VADER: I have you now.

He pushes the fire buttons. The three TIE fighters move in on Luke. As Vader's center fighter unleashes a volley of laserfire, one of the TIE ships at his side is hit and explodes into flame. The two remaining ships continue to move in. Luke looks about, wondering whose laserfire destroyed Vader's wingman. Vader is taken by surprise, and looks out from his cockpit.

VADER: What?

Vader's wingman searches around him trying to locate the unknown attacker.

MILLENNIUM FALCON: Han and Chewbacca grin from ear to ear.

HAN: (yelling) Yahoo!

The Millennium Falcon heads right at the two TIE fighters. It's a collision course.

The wingman spots the pirateship coming at him and warns the Dark Lord.

WINGMAN: Look out!

Vader's wingman panics at the sight of the oncoming pirate starship and veers radically to one side, colliding with Vader's TIE fighter in the process. Vader's wingman crashes into the side wall of the trench and explodes. Vader's damaged ship spins out of the trench with a damaged wing. Vader's ship spins out of control with a bent solar fin, heading for deep space. Vader turns round and round in circles as his ship spins into space.

Solo's ship moves in toward the Death Star trench. Solo, smiling, speaks to Luke over his headset mike.

HAN: (into mike) You're all clear, kid. Now let's blow this thing and go home!