We have talked about the first three Star Wars movies in the past article, though released later they were the prequels. Episodes IV – VI pick up nearly almost 20 years after episode III where we last saw the twins separated and Anakin become the Sith Lord Darth Vader. The galactic republic is turned into the galactic empire ruled by the Sith lord Darth Sidious also known as Emperor Palpatine. A rebel alliance was formed in the interim period to fight against the tyrannical rule of Sidious, Vader and his forces have decimated the Jedi Order. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Grand Master Yoda are still in hiding, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
The story starts with the rebel alliance receiving stolen plans, the stolen plans belong to a planet destroying space station known as the Death Star. Princess Leia Organa the senator to Alderran is secretly one of the rebel leaders obtains the stolen plans on her ship. Her ship is intercepted by a Imperial Starship under the command of Anakin Skywalker that gave up his old identity and ways to be the Sith Lord Darth Vader. Leia hides the schematics in a droid R2-D2 before she is captured by Vader. The droid evades capture along with its companion C3-PO by using an escape pod to land on the planet Tatooine.
The two droids are captured by the Jawa traders and sold to moisture farmer Owen and Beeru Lars. Owen tasks his nephew Luke Skywalker with cleaning the droids, Luke discovers the message from Leia directed to General Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke takes restraints off R2-D2 and C3-PO out of kindness, R2-D2 determined to complete his mission leaves the Skywalker farm. Luke is attacked by the Sand people while he’s looking for R2 and is saved by Ben Kenobi an old hermit that lives in the outskirts.
Luke talks to Ben and it is revealed that Ben Kenobi is indeed Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan tells Luke about his life as a Jedi Knight and tells him about his father Anakin. Obi-Wan tells Luke about his father who was a respected Jedi Knight and an accomplished star pilot, he tells Luke that Vader killed Anakin. Obi-Wan decides to deliver R2 to Bail Organa as requested by Leia, Bail is a fellow rebel veteran adoptive father to Leia. Luke initially declines Obi-Wan’s offer to teach him the way of the Force and help the rebels, Luke accepts when he finds his house burned to the ground by Storm Troopers looking for the droids on the orders of Vader.
Luke and Obi-Wan search for a transport to reach Alderran, they end up hiring smuggler Han Solo and his ship the Millennium Falcon. Pursued by the minions of local mobster Jabba The Hut and stormtroopers Obi-Wan, Luke, the droids and solo board the Falcon along with Solo’s co-pilot Chewbacca.
Alderran is destroyed by Death Star Commander Grand Moff Tarkin while interrogating Leia about the rebel base. The Falcon unaware of the destruction travel to Alderran and is captured by the Death Stars tractor beam. Obi-Wan sneaks his way to stop the death stars tractor beam and asks the others to stay put. Luke convinces Solo and Chewie to help him rescue Leia who is about to be executed by Tarkin. After disabling the tractor beam Obi-Wan fight his former student and sacrifices his life to allow the others to escape the death star. Unbeknownst to the group, The falcon is tracked by the Death star to the rebel base of Yavin 4.
The schematics of the Death star reveal a weakness, an exhaust port that can be used to destroy the entire space station. Luke joins in the squadron of X-Wing pilots on an attack against the slowly approaching Death star. The rebels face heavy losses against the Death star but Solo who left after collecting his reward comes back to assist the rebels. Solo knocks Vader’s TIE Fighter off course before he could shoot Luke, Luke using this opportunity uses the force to guide the missiles to the vulnerable exhaust port. The Death star is destroyed at the last minute and the rebels celebrate their victory. Solo and Luke are awarded medals for their bravery against the Imperials.
We will pick up the next chapter soon so stay tuned. Until then may the Force be with you.
