On the ground, the gun towers near the Rebel power generators blasted away at

the walking Imperial machines, but with no apparent effect. Imperial weapons

bombarded the area all around them, blasting the snow skyward, almost blinding their

human targets with the continuous onslaught. The officer who had first seen the

incredible machines and fought alongside his men, was one of the first to be cut down

by a walker's body-ripping rays. Troops rushed to his aid, but couldn't save him;

too much of his blood had already spilled, making a scarlet stain against the snow.

More Rebel fire power blasted from one of the dishlike guns that had been

erected near the power generators. Despite these tremendous explosions, the

walkers continued to march. Another speeder made a heroic dive between a pair of

the walkers, only to be caught by fire from one of the machines that exploded it into a

great ball of rippling flames.

The surface explosions made the walls of the ice hangar tremble, causing deep

cracks to spread.

Han Solo and Chewbacca were working frantically to complete their welding job.

As they worked, it became obvious that the widening cracks would soon bring the

entire ice ceiling smashing down upon them.

"First chance we get," Han said, "we're giving this crate a complete overhaul.

But he knew that first he would have to get the Millennium Falcon out of this white

hell.

Even as he and the Wookiee labored on the ship, enormous pieces of ice, broken

loose by the explosions, came tumbling down throughout the underground base.

Princess Leia moved quickly, trying to avoid the falling frozen chunks, as she sought

shelter in the Rebel command center.

"I'm not sure we can protect two transports at a time," General Rieekan told her

as she entered the chamber.

"It's risky," she answered, "but our holding action is faltering." Leia realized

that the transport launchings were taking too much time and that the procedure had to

be hastened.

Rieekan issued a command through his comlink. "Launch patrol, proceed with

accelerated departures…"

As the general gave his order, Leia looked toward an aide and said, "Begin

clearing the remaining ground stuff." But she knew that their escape depended

completely on Rebel success in the on-going battle above.

Inside the cold and cramped cockpit of the lead Imperial walker, General Veers

moved between his snow-suited pilots. "What is the distance to the power

generators?"

Without looking away from the control panel, one of the pilots replied,

"Six-four-one."

Satisfied, General Veers reached for an electrotelescope and peered through the

viewfinder to focus on the bullet-shaped power generators and the Rebel soldiers

fighting to save them. Suddenly the walker began to rock violently under a barrage

of Rebel gunfire. As he was propelled backward, Veers saw his pilot scrambling

over the controls to keep the machine from toppling over.

The Rogue Three snowspeeder had just attacked the lead walker. Its pilot,

Wedge, hooted with a loud Rebel shout of victory as he saw the damage his guns had

caused.

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