Welcome to the #3 Edition of 60 Standard Minutes.

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

It’s time again for 60 Standard Minutes, and as I began thinking of my next character to portray, I thought that it should be our favorite Corellian smuggler, Han Solo. But then I began thinking how incomplete a Smuggler and Pilot article must be without his own ship and Co-Pilot to accompany him. So after you read about Han Solo look down and read about his great pal, Chewbacca and everyone’s beloved ship, The Millennium Falcon.

 

Solo, Han

Han Solo was born on Corellia. He was a good student, and caught the eye of Imperial Senator Garm Bel Iblis with his pointed questions during a school political rally when Han was 11. Some of his friends goaded him to ask Bel Iblis about the growing xenophobia in the Senate, as well as the apparent internal corruption in the Old Republic. This helped Han get an appointment to the Academy on Carida, where he excelled. Following his graduation, he was considered for Naval Officer's training, but he was sidetracked by Imperial atrocities against the Wookiee race. On a particular mission, Han tried successfully to rescue a Wookiee slave named Chewbacca. Chewbacca claimed a life-debt to Han even as Han was receiving a dishonorable discharge from the Imperial Navy. They were forced to flee Imperial control and live their lives at the fringes of the lawful world.

 

For a number of years, Han tried to shake Chewie, who was always at his side. Even though Han took the worst kinds of jobs, Chewie stuck with him. Eventually, Han realized the depth of a Wookiee life debt, and accepted Chewie as part of his life. Han was awarded a second-level set of Corellian Bloodstripes for his bravery and selflessness in rescuing Chewbacca. (It is unknown at this time how Han earned his first-level Bloodstripes.) They turned to smuggling, using Han's starship knowledge and Chewie's muscular and mechanical skills to quickly gain recognition in the smugglers' world. Han's skills at gambling became equally sharp, and in a famous Sabacc match, he managed to win the smuggling ship Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian. With a ship and a partner, Han had many adventures. He spent a number of years based on Nar Shaddaa, working with Shug Ninx and falling in and out of love with Salla Zend.

 

He left that life behind to work in the Corporate Sector, and spent a number of years there with Doc, Jessa, and Roa. After all these adventures, Han ended up in the domain of Moruth Doole and Jabba the Hutt. Han was one of many pilots who were contracted to make the Kessel Run and smuggle spice out from beneath Imperial control. Han made the run a number of times, once in fewer than twelve parsecs. However, his last run almost cost him his life. He was set up by Doole, who was in the process of being set up by Jabba the Hutt, and the Imperials were tipped of as to the time of Han's Run. In order to escape the Imperials, Han was forced to dump Jabba's spice and flee. This earned him a death mark from Jabba, and Han was again forced to go underground. In an effort to make some extra credits and pay off Jabba, Han accepted Obi-Wan Kenobi's offer of 17,000 credits to transport Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and C-3PO to Alderaan. The mission was sidetracked as the Millennium Falcon was captured by the first Death Star. Han and Luke rescued Princess Leia Organa, and brought her to Yavin 4. Han tried to leave with his reward money and pay Jabba off, but his conscience interfered again. He destroyed Darth Vader's wingmen and gave Luke the time he needed to destroy the Death Star.

 

Following the Battle of Yavin, Han spent time with the Alliance, helping them gain key victories against the Empire while trying to stay one step ahead of Jabba's mercenaries. He was even promoted to the rank of General in the Alliance. After a close call with a bounty hunter on Ord Mantell, Han again tried to return and pay Jabba, only to be forced to Cloud City while escaping Darth Vader and the Imperial Navy. During this time, he and Princess Leia began to fall in love. This trip reunited Han with Lando Calrissian, but led to Han's being tracked by Boba Fett, imprisoned in carbonite, and returned to Jabba for the reward money. Han was freed by an elaborate plot by Luke Skywalker on Tatooine, and Han rejoined the Alliance to lead the ground assault on the forest moon of Endor. His timely destruction of the second Death Star's main shield helped the Alliance destroy the space station and the Emperor, thus ending the Imperial Civil War and restoring the Republic.

 

Following the formation of the New Republic, Han and Leia tried to continue their relationship, but Leia's duties often interfered. Han resigned his commission with the New Republic, but stayed on as a freelance pilot. Following the Battle of Bakura and the fighting on Dathomir, Han and Leia were finally married. Their marriage produced twin children - Jaina, a daughter; and Jacen, a son - as well as a second son, Anakin. Leia's Force sensitivity was passed onto all of the children, and this made them prime targets for the Jedi clone Joruus C'Baoth and the reborn Emperor Palpatine. Han and Leia continued to protect their children against the Imperial threat. During a vacation from his wife's Republic world, Han and Chewie were shot down over Kessel, and captured by Moruth Doole's forces. He was forced to work the spice mines for Doole, which led him to discover Kyp Durron and the Maw Installation. Han's friendship with Kyp helped avoid serious damage when Kyp was corrupted by Exar Kun's spirit.

 

Despite the fact that Han had resigned from service to the Republic after his marriage to Leia, he was often pressed into service. One of those times occurred during the Yevethan Purge. After Etahn A'baht was unable to blockade the Koornacht Cluster, Han was temporarily promoted to Commodore and placed in command of the Fifth Battle Group. This move was designed to keep Leia's supporters, as well as the supporters of Borsk Fey'lya, from arguing over the position and focused on the battle. However, the deceit of Tig Peramis provided this information to Nil Spaar, who sent several of his Interdictor cruisers to intercept Han's shuttle before it reached the fleet. Han was tortured and interrogated by Spaar himself. Later, Han was instrumental in the resolution of the problems in the Corellian Sector, overcoming the Human League and the actions of his cousin, Thrackan Sal-Solo. Han and Chewbacca continued to serve the New Republic, despite the fact that they had resolved their commissions long ago.

 

At fifty-four years old, however, Han met his match when the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy. During a rescue mission to Sernipdal, Chewbacca was stranded on the planet while trying to ensure that Han and his son, Anakin Solo, made it to the Millennium Falcon. Chewie died saving them, and Han immediately blamed Anakin, who had been piloting the Falcon. He soon realized that there was no fault to be given in Chewie's death, since the Wookiee was simply honoring a life-debt with all his strength and energy. This did nothing to soothe Han's heart, though, and he distanced himself from his friends and family while trying to come to terms with his grief. He found an outlet when Roa asked him to help locate Reck Desh. Han took off for Ord Mantell, only to have Roa captured by the Yuuzhan Vong. As Han fled the Jubilee Wheel, he found an unexpected ally and friend in Droma, a nomadic Ryn. However, Han's relationship with Leia deteriorated when he explained that he was headed back out to find Roa and help Droma locate his family. Their estrangement only worsened in the aftermath of the Battle of Fondor. Han remained behind, helping to get Droma and his family settled on Abregado-rae, then helping Roa recover from his captivity. Leia continued to work with SELCORE, and refused to meet Han on Coruscant. After the loss of Kalarba, Han ran into Leia on Duro, and they decided to stop being foolish and restore their lives. Their relationship continued to deepen once again, despite the loss of their son Anakin at Myrkr. The Solos threw themselves into the battle against the Yuuzhan Vong, and Han found himself volunteering for some of the most dangerous and crazy of assignments. Han and Leia were instrumental in the rescue of Thorsh from Selvaris, and later the rescue of Judder Page and several more Selvaris prisoners. After watching Caluula Station be destroyed, Han again volunteered for a dangerous mission, this time to return to Caluula and destroy the yammosk which had been installed there. However, as soon as they reached the yammosk, Team Meloque was attacked by four Yuuzhan Vong Slayers. As he tried to defend leia, Han was bitten in the neck by one of the augmented amphistaffs and poisoned. However, something about Caluula's environment reduced the potency of the amphistaff venom, and Han soon recovered. Han returned to Coruscant with his family during the final battle against the Yuuzhan Vong, working with the Jedi Knights and an Alliance infiltration team to reach the Citadel and eliminate Shimrra and Onimi.

 

Now after you have read about Han Solo you must ask the question, “What would a great Pilot be without his ship?â€

Edited July 20, 2004 by Admiral_Antilles

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

The Millenium Falcon realy brought a tear to my eye.

 

I was never big on the Wookie or the Nerf herder myself. The whole rogue thing didn't work for me.

 

Once more you have thrilled us! Can't wait for No. 4!

 

I did notice that you over-looked hans time on Ylesia and how he became attached to wookies. And the first bit about Han was new to me. I thought he worked for a smuggler-type guy and didn't know his parents or anything

[ADarkJedi44]

Another good edition! Keep them coming! I'll be expecting them daily....But stop voting for yourself!

[smellymummy]

wow these we're great. I had no idea of the extent of chewie's service

 

a few questions though: how old can wookie live? what is the designation PE mean (in chewbacca's birthday), and people actually take vacations to Kessel?

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

I am glad you all enjoyed it. Now to your questions, mummy. I am not real sure on either the Wookie Lifespan, or meaning of PE. I ran across it in my searching for info, so I put it in there. Sorry.

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

PE probably mean Pre-Empire.

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

You are probably correct their, Thrawn. Thank You for pointing that out.

[ADarkJedi44]

Yep that sounds logical. Those wookies certainly live a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

Well, unless you drop a moon on thier scruffy buts!

[ADarkJedi44]

Who would survive that?

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

Yes, and so do a lot of other Aliens, compared to Humans that is. I am afraid we Humans were not made to live very long. Oh well, I suppose we have the best time with our short-lived lives.

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

Yes, you poor humans. CHiss live longer than you, so I'll still be posting here after all of the Admins go the way of Mozard... and start DECOMPSING!. Get it!? Decomposing? Because he was a composer. So no.. hes decomposing. Decom.. posinging. Ah....

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

You may live longer, but at least we are funny.

[ADarkJedi44]

The was a pretty corny/funny joke thingy.

We're all funny here don't you know? WE'RE INSANE!

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

You just don't get the CHiss sense of humor.

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

Okay, thats enough. Stay on-topic and only use it for discussions about Han, Chewie, and the Falcon.

[ADarkJedi44]

Anyways, your bodyguard will kill you soon enough

Once we're all dead, why would you want to post here

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

I wouldn't, and thus I will not kill any one. Just mame.

[ADarkJedi44]

Well ummm I guess I should be relived....but let us get back on topic....

[smellymummy]

PE means Pre-Empire?

 

That would make sense, if the years are in reverse. Otherwise how can you count from point 0, if point 0 is before the event? I can see Post Empire as a designation, although it's more than certain that it doesn't mean that

[BadSamaritan]

Han got his first set of bloostripes in an incident involving a set of corrupt officers, and a gambling wheel onboard on of the ships he was assigned to. Thats all I even know about that.

 

As for winning the Falcon, Han won it at a major Saabac tournement at Bespin, not in a friendly game. And he never removed any of the hardware from Falcon, he just said he did to get starship regulation inspectors off of his back.

 

Sorry, I just had to add in my two cents.

[Unagi353]

Ok... I have come to a conclusion as to why we are all talking about this.

George Lucas wants to controle the world, so he released video games that train people in tactics and battle manuvers so we could be his loyal armagedon army

That or we need to date more...

[Krytos]

Nice work Antilliles, your best one yet! Nice and in depth.

 

As for Han and Chewie - well I've always liked them as secondary characters - though never when they were a main focus (with exceptions of The Black Fleet Crisis). Still, it was sad to see Chewie go in Vector Prime - stupid moons Though, if you got to go, you might as well go out with a bang!

[Mad78]

The lifespan of a wookie is of about 900 years if I remember well. And you may be interested to know that Chewbacca met Qui-Gonn Jinn and that they fought of an assault of the Trade Federation on Kasshyk.

And you forgot to mention that Solo leaded the Strike force against Zsinj and finally suscceded in killing him.

Oherwise it was great keep it up.

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

PE means Pre-Empire?

 

That would make sense, if the years are in reverse. Otherwise how can you count from point 0, if point 0 is before the event? I can see Post Empire as a designation, although it's more than certain that it doesn't mean that

 

Pre Empire makes perfect sense. When referring to Chewie's birthday, they use the original day and year. There fore, if he was born 183 years before the empire, his B-Day would be 183 PE. How does that not make sense? If you look in teh Star Wars Encyclopedia all of the dates in the timeline are based on the Battle of Yavin as 0. Everything before is BBY and everything agter is ABY. Chewie's birhtday is the same thing. Also, consider BCE and CE (it's no longer BC and AD). Events that occur before year 0 are BCE (before common era) and things after are CE (common era). I think that you are assuming the year oc Chewies birth to be 0.