The Light and the Dark - A Star Wars Story

Chapter 47

The entire Resistance gathered together, ready to hear what Finn, Poe, and Alinah had planned. Now that they had a way to get to Exegol, it was time for them to make their move. The Sith Fleet had already been launched and caused damage to Kijimi. While they knew this fight was coming, the Resistance members were unsure of their chances. Finn, Poe, and Alinah, however, knew that they had a chance this time.

"As long as those Star Destroyers are on Exegol, we can hit them," Finn said, referring to the fleet.

"Hit them how?" Beaumont asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They can't activate their shields until they leave the atmosphere," Rose explained.

"Which isn't easy on Exegol," Poe added. "Ships that size need help taking off. Nav can't tell which way's up out there."

"So, how do the ships take off?" Wrobie Tyce asked.

"They get a signal from a navigation tower," Alinah said, showing a holo of one. "Similar to this one."

"Except they won't," Finn said. "Air team's going to find the tower, ground team's going to blast it."

"Ground team?" Someone questioned.

Alinah looked over at Jannah, who nodded at her. "Finn, Jannah, and I got that covered," she replied.

"Once the tower's down, the fleet will be stuck in atmo," Poe explained. "For just minutes, with no shields, and no way out."

"We think hitting the cannons might ignite the main reactors," Rose explained.

"That's our chance," Lando added with a shrug of his hands.

"We need to pull some Holdo maneuvers," Beaumont said. "Do some real damage."

Finn gave him a look. "Come on, that move is one in a million," he told him. "Fighters and freighters can take out the cannons if there are enough."

"There aren't enough of us!" Nien Nunb said, worried.

Kaydel nodded at him. "He's right," she agreed. "We'd be no more than bugs to them."

Alinah gave her friend a reassuring look. "That's where Lando and Chewie come in," she said, motioning over to the General and the Wookiee. "They'll fly the Falcon to the Core Systems and send out a signal. If anyone's listening, they'll answer and come to our aid."

"We've got friends out there," Poe added. "They'll come if they know there's hope."

Everyone looked unsure with that statement. They all remembered the Battle of Crait, where they tried to reach out to their allies. No one answered because they didn't have any hope. There wouldn't be any difference this time because this was the Sith they were fighting. It wasn't just the First Order anymore.

But Finn, Alinah, and Poe remembered Crait differently. They remembered Luke Skywalker showing up as a projection, giving them a chance to escape. He gave them hope through his legend. They needed to keep his sacrifice going by fighting against the Sith Fleet and trying to reach out to allies again. They couldn't give up, not now. Not when the galaxy was at stake.

"They will," Poe reassured them. He then remembered what Zorii had told him back on Kijimi. When he had felt just as hopeless. "The First Order wins by making us think we're alone. We're not alone. Good people will fight if we lead them."

"Leia never gave up," Finn added. "And neither will we. We're going to show them we're not afraid."

"We know you guys are scared that we'll lose, but you can't let that keep us from trying," Alinah said. "The Rebellion was able to defeat the Empire, and they had nothing but hope. Many heroes died in that war so we could keep the peace. This is how we honor their sacrifices."