A long time ago, in a galaxyfar, far away…

Episode III

STRIKE FORCE : SHANTIPOLE

These are dark days for the Alliance. Widespread use of the NEBULON-B frigate and its mighty armaments by the Empire has all but virtually ended all raids on its convoys.Without the materials from those convoys, Rebel supplies have become dangerously low. This could spell the end forthe Rebellion.

But all is not lost. On a remote base in the Roche AsteroidField, COMMANDER ACKBAR and his teams desperately work to complete a new starfighter capable of neutralizingthe Nebulon-B escort frigates.

Even now, a team of brave Rebel agents approaches theRoche Asteroid Field under orders to pick up Ackbar, his team, and the new starfighter prototypes and return with them safely to Alliance High Command. If they fail, then the struggle for freedom may indeed be over . . .

Roche Asteroid Field

Roche Asteroid Field

Aboard the Rebel freighter, Out Runner…

Aboard the Rebel freighter, Out Runner…

“Interesting view. Hey, Vreego, sure you can handle this asteroid field?”

Aboard the Rebel freighter, Out Runner…

“Interesting view. Hey, Vreego, sure you can handle this asteroid field?”

*snorts* “Just you watch.”

Aboard the Rebel freighter, Out Runner…

“Interesting view. Hey, Vreego, sure you can handle this asteroid field?”

*snorts* “Just you watch.”

“Commencing sensor sweep. Alliance signalreceiver has located the homing broadcasts.”

“Send the data over to my screen. We just follow the signal to its origin, and it looks like we should be docking within the hour.”

“Good. The sooner we turn this holo-disk overto this Commander Ackbar, the better. Playing mailcourier to outer rim systems isn’t my idea of aglamorous assignment.”

“Send the data over to my screen. We just follow the signal to its origin, and it looks like we should be docking within the hour.”

“Good. The sooner we turn this holo-disk overto this Commander Ackbar, the better. Playing mailcourier to outer rim systems isn’t my idea of aglamorous assignment.”

“I don’t think you realize that disk is far more importantthan you give it credit. We’re stretched too thin and shipsare too scarce for the Alliance to be sending us on frivolousmissions.”

“Send the data over to my screen. We just follow the signal to its origin, and it looks like we should be docking within the hour.”

“And we were specifically ordered to hand deliver the disk directly to Commander Ackbar.”

“And we were specifically ordered to hand deliver the disk directly to Commander Ackbar.”

“Don’t forget! I saw Mon Mothma back at the base…”

“And we were specifically ordered to hand deliver the disk directly to Commander Ackbar.”

“Don’t forget! I saw Mon Mothma back at the base…”

“…talking to Commander Vandis right before the briefing.We know. You’ve told us. Twice.”

“Well, I did! How often do you expect to see the Chief of Stateof the Rebel Alliance herself stop by our little nothing of a base?And It was right before they gave us the code word. What, just acoincidence, you think?”

“Well, I did! How often do you expect to see the Chief of Stateof the Rebel Alliance herself stop by our little nothing of a base?And It was right before they gave us the code word. What, just acoincidence, you think?”

“Code word? What was it,again?”

“Well, I did! How often do you expect to see the Chief of Stateof the Rebel Alliance herself stop by our little nothing of a base?And It was right before they gave us the code word. What, just acoincidence, you think?”

“Code word? What was it,again?”

“I believe the commander pronounced it, ‘bantha poodoo.’According to the computer’s lexicon, the phrase originates with the Huttese culture and means –”

“Not now! Plotting a course into an asteroidfield isn’t exactly as easy as it looks!”

“Not now! Plotting a course into an asteroidfield isn’t exactly as easy as it looks!”

“This is the first I’ve heard of an Alliancebase located in a asteroid field before.”

“Not now! Plotting a course into an asteroidfield isn’t exactly as easy as it looks!”

“This is the first I’ve heard of an Alliancebase located in a asteroid field before.”

“If everyone heard about it, it wouldn’t be a secret now, would it?It’s nothing new. We’ve got several listening posts in asteroidfields, last I checked.”

“Besides, the Roche field just happens to be home to theengineers working with Ackbar on this secret project.”

“Besides, the Roche field just happens to be home to theengineers working with Ackbar on this secret project.”

“Secrets! Everyone’s got secrets! Just who are theseso-called engineers, anyways?”

“Besides, the Roche field just happens to be home to theengineers working with Ackbar on this secret project.”

“Secrets! Everyone’s got secrets! Just who are theseso-called engineers, anyways?”

“They call themselves the ‘Verpine.’ I understandthe entire race lives within this asteroid field.”

“An impressive feat. So they’re the ones who’vedeveloped this weird-looking starfighter?”

“An impressive feat. So they’re the ones who’vedeveloped this weird-looking starfighter?”

“Weird-looking? This new B-wing assault fighter is supposedto be one of the most heavily-armed starfighters in the galaxy.”

“An impressive feat. So they’re the ones who’vedeveloped this weird-looking starfighter?”

“Weird-looking? This new B-wing assault fighter is supposedto be one of the most heavily-armed starfighters in the galaxy.”

“I’m receiving a reading on the full-spectrum transceivers. Sensors indicate approaching ships off our port side.”

“A Verpine welcoming committee, perhaps?”

“Sensors indicate silhouettes andenergy signatures consistent withImperial TIE fighters!”

“A Verpine welcoming committee, perhaps?”

“Sensors indicate silhouettes andenergy signatures consistent withImperial TIE fighters!”

“Imperials! Why does it always have to be Imperials?!”

“A Verpine welcoming committee, perhaps?”

“Sensors indicate silhouettes andenergy signatures consistent withImperial TIE fighters!”

“In that case, I take it back. This missionseems like it’ll be far more exciting, after all!”

“Imperials! Why does it always have to be Imperials?!”

“A Verpine welcoming committee, perhaps?”

Rosharr: “Energy spike! They’re preparing to fire!”