Through intelligence operations that cost the lives of many Bothan

Bothan Sentient Species

spies, the Alliance learned that the space station

Death Star 2 Starship Space Stations

was orbiting the forest moon

Endor Planet

of Endor. In addition, the Rebels learned that, although the station was protected by a powerful deflector shield

SLD-26 Planetary Shield Generator Ground Vehicle Structures

projected from a base on the moon, the station's weapons were not yet ready for service. Furthermore, they also learned from the Emperor's datapad itself, stolen in the Battle of Korriban, that the Emperor

Palpatine (Human) Character Major Characters

was personally supervising the final construction of the station. Destroying the station while he was still aboard would deliver a crushing blow to the Galactic Empire, perhaps the blow that would free the galaxy. Mon Mothma

Mon Mothma (Human) Character Major Characters

, the leader of the Rebel Alliance, gave a speech regarding the information with a heavy heart. Determining the opportunity too vital to pass up, the Alliance planned a two-pronged attack. A commando squad, led by General Han Solo

Han Solo (Human) Character Major Characters

and coordinated by General Brenn Tantor, a former Imperial general who had set up the shield generator, would land on the moon in a stolen Imperial shuttle

Tydirium (Lambda-class Shuttle) Starship Named Starships

and disable the base's deflector shield projector. This would allow a Rebel fleet to attack and destroy the Death Star. Although the preparations to the shuttle in question, the Tydirium, including bringing in the task force, were complete, Solo did not find a command crew for the vessel in time, before Chewbacca

Chewbacca (Wookiee) Character Major Characters

and Leia Organa

Leia Organa Solo (Human) Character Major Characters

volunteered. Skywalker

Luke Skywalker (Human) Character Major Characters

, who had just arrived at the Home One

Home One (MC80 Mon Calamari Star Cruiser) Starship Named Starships

's briefing room volunteered as well.