PC Furyou Miko:
- R2 fixes another ancient droid in the sandcrawler and they plot escape
- A rebel cell in Mos Espa picks up a panicked transmission from the Tantive IV?
- Tuskens engage the stormtroopers at the sandcrawler?
- A young force user detects Vader in orbit and hijacks a Lambda shuttle to escape the inquisition she thinks is coming for her?
- Because there's no rescue in the ruins of Alderaan, Vader has time to turn Leia as an apprentice?
- Luke is killed when the Stormtroopers attack the Lars homestead after interrogating the Jawas (who have already lost R2) because 3PO might have the plans?
- This sounds like the most likely scenario. R2 was desperate to get to Obi-wan. If some farmboy won't free him, he would have to free himself. Given enough time R2 could have repaired all those droids and removed their "do no harm" protocols. Then they would make a break for freedom. Maybe in the process they would send a signal to the Empire telling them where they can find the Jawas. That way the Empire will prevent the Jawas from giving chase. Play both sides against the middle, so to speak.
- An Imperial officer said to Vader in the original film "... We intercepted no transmissions." No transmission was sent. But the Rebellion could have gotten word out another way. Biggs Darklighter was at the Battle of Scarif. He was one of the X-wing pilots who got away. While Leia is trying to shake Vader by jumping form system to system on her way to Tatooine, Biggs makes a direct flight. Biggs is from Tatooine and a recent graduate of the Space Academy. It wouldn't have seemed odd for him to go home to visit family. But his real mission is to get a message to Rebel operatives there letting them know that Leia is on her way and she needs help to locate Obi-wan. In a deleted scene Biggs and Luke are together at Tosche Station when Luke spots a space battle happening over head. Biggs tries to recruit Luke to the Rebellion, but Luke is all "I can't leave. My aunt and uncle need me." Biggs and his team of rebels may then go out to try to save survivors who crashed in an escape pod. They then track the droids to the Jawas, but only find R2.
- Didn't happen in the original film, and I don't see how that's going to help the Rebellion get the Death Star Plans.
- A very likely thing to happen. But how is she going to rescue R2? Perhaps R2 gets free on his own. This young Force User finds him wandering the desert and agrees to help R2 get to Alderaan. And, oh wait, where have I heard this plot before? That's The Force Awakens!
- Depends on how the first half of the film turns out. If say Biggs and his team save R2 then Biggs will have taken R2 directly to Yavin in his X-wing. Hence Leia doesn't get rescued. But she would not get turned. Vader didn't sense she was strong in the Force then, and Tarkin ordered her executed.
- Not necessarily so. All Owen and Luke bought was C-3PO in my scenario. C-3PO didn't know anything. He didn't have the Plans or a mission. Luke and Owen could have cooperated with the Empire and showed them C-3PO. The Empire could then download C-3PO's memory and not have gotten what they wanted but some extra clues about R2-D2's mission. The Empire had no reason to attack Human moisture farmers who could have given them what they wanted if the Stormtroopers would just ask nicely. The Stormtroopers were asking nicely in Mos Eisley, so why not on the farmsteads that help keep the planet alive? Luke and Owen had no reason to refuse a perfectly reasonable request. It's not like they are hiding a droid that is carrying a secret message for Obi-wan Kenobi.
The Raid on the Lars Farmstead probably went like this:
Stormtrooper - You there, farmer! Did you acquire any droids recently?
Owen - Yes. (The Stormtrooper already knows the answer is yes. Owen is being truthful.)
Stormtrooper - Show them to me.
Owen - Okay. They're down in the garage. (Owen doesn't know the droids are gone. When Luke discovered R2 had run away, he didn't tell Owen. Luke was afraid he would get in trouble.)
Stormtrooper - There are no droids here. Where are they?
Owen - I don't know. They should be right here.
Stormtrooper - (backhands Owen across the face) Where are they!?
Owen - I don't know! Maybe Luke took them out early to check on the vaporators on the South Farthing.
Beru - What was that noise? What's going on?
Stormtrooper - Where are the droids you recently acquired, woman?
Beru - I don't know. Luke should know. Luke! Luke! Where are you, Luke?
Stormtrooper - (talking to the rest of his squad) You, get on your ride and check out this South Farthing. The rest of you, tear this place apart. I want those droids found.
Owen - Hey, come on! I have no reason to lie to you. Stop that! You're going to break that. If I knew where those droids were at, I'd tell you. I'm just as confused as you are.
Stormtrooper - Shut up, Rebel scum! You're hiding them. We'll find them.
Another Stormtrooper - Sir, we've searched everywhere. No sign of the droids or this Luke person. There's a space in the garage. It looks like a landspeeder's missing.
Owen - That had to be Luke. I told you, South Farthing.
Stormtrooper - The man I sent there reports there's no one out there. Where did they really go?
Owen - I don't know.
Stormtrooper - I'm tired of this. Talk or I'll order my men to burn down your home.
Owen - I! .... don't! ... Know! Maybe Anchorhead! I told Luke to get those droids' memories erased. Take your search there.
Stormtrooper - Fine. Have it your way, Rebel Scum. Burn the place, men.
Beru - Owen, tell them something, anything! They're burning our house!
Owen - Tell them what? I told them what little I know and these bucketheads don't believe me.
Stormtrooper - I'm going to ask you one last time. Where did Luke go with the droids?
Owen - Well... uh... Screw you! I wouldn't tell you even if I did know! Arrrrrgh! (as the Stormtrooper shoves Owen into the fire)
Beru - Owen! Noooooo!
Stormtrooper - Awww, how sad. Least I could do is reunite you with your husband. (shove)
Other Stormtrooper - (watching two figures emerge from the burning home totally engulfed in flames) Sir, if they're not here then where did they go?
Stormtrooper - They can't stay on this planet forever. They've got to get a ship off. Search the starports. They'll turn up eventually.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Wed 26 July 2017.