Escape from Cloud City

"Attention! This is Lando Calrissian. Attention! The Empire is taking control of the city. I advise everyone to leave before more Imperial troops arrive."

- Lando Calrissian

The Escape from Cloud City took place during the Galactic Civil War. As part of a plot to capture Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader led the Imperial Military to Cloud City, a tibanna gas mine in the atmosphere of Bespin. The Dark Lord of the Sith laid a trap for Skywalker and dueled the fledgling Jedi in an attempt to capture him. At the same time, members of the Rebel Alliance fought to rescue Han Solo from the bounty hunter Boba Fett and escape from Cloud City. They were unable to rescue Solo, who had been frozen in carbonite as part of Vader's plot, but they were able to fight their way past stormtroopers escape from the city aboard the Millennium Falcon. The Rebels, along with the city's Baron Administrator, Lando Calrissian, briefly returned in order to rescue Skywalker, who was injured in his duel with the Dark Lord, before evading the Imperial Navy and making the jump into hyperspace to rejoin the Alliance Fleet.

Background
"It would be unfortunate, If I had to leave a Garrison Here."

- Darth Vader to Lando Calrissian

Capture
Hoping to turn his son to the Dark Side, Darth Vader send the Imperial Navy to Cloud City to capture Luke's friends, Han Solo, Leia and Chewbacca to be used as bait to lure him out of hiding, which would then be forced to face Vader in combat.

Vader had foreseen that, the crew of the Millennium Falcon would seek refugee from the Empire Vader made a deal with the city's administrator, Lando Calrissian to capture Luke's friends in exchange for autonomy from the Empire.

Lando was initially satisfied, but began to feel uneasy as Vader, continued to alter the agreement. When Lando Protested the idea of keeping Leia and Chewbacca in the City, Vader reminded him that disobedience, would result in the end of his colony's freedom. Now seen as a traitor to his friends, Lando was forced to comply with Vader and allowed Han to be handed over to Boba Fett, who Vader had hired, to track down the ship, and Jabba the Hutt who had also put a bounty on Han Solo's head.

Vader's trap would eventually reach Luke as a vision and he rushed off to save his friends, despite objection from both Yoda and Ben Kenobi.

Freezing Han
Vader had planned on putting Luke in Carbonite, in order to be, delivered to The Emperor personally. Hoping to avoid his death, Vader chose Han Solo as a test-subject.

Han, Leia, and Chewbacca, were brought to the Carbon Freezing Facility, where Han learned of his fate. Despite Chewbacca's attempt to set him free, Han insisted that there would be another time to rescue him. Before Han was frozen, Leia told Han how she felt, to which he responded "I Know"

Appearances

 * Lost Stars
 * Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
 * Epic Yarns: The Empire Strikes Back