Beating Heart ♔ Rey

seveteen

Chapter Seventeen;

Not long after Hester finished her talk with Han and Leia, an officer approached with news of a returned reconnaissance flight from Starkiller Base. Leia turned to disappear, though not after grabbing Hester's arm and sating, "We'll need you at the meeting, Hester. Wait here - it should start as soon as we have everyone gathered."

Hester had nodded, realising that soon, she'd be among the inner circle of the Resistance. The thought made her stomach flutter, though she didn't let it known. She and Han awaited the others around the map table and soon enough, the needed members arrived - Hester smiled to see Finn and Poe we're apart of the meeting.

As everyone arrived, Hester was aware of the gazes that lingered on her, some of them suspicious. Hester swallowed, but remembered what Poe said, and this strengthened her resolve as she straightened and raised her chin slightly. She didn't just need to be trusted, she realised, but respected - there was no way she could advance in the eyes of the others if she didn't hold their respect. Hester was careful to not appear overbearing, though determined and confident. When Poe introduced her to several members of the Resistance, she smiled and shook their hands and greeted them with a warm, lively lilt to her tone. After the first few introductions things became easier, and Hester could see several members frown as they considered her; she could sense their wavering uncertainty as they slowly began to change their opinion about her.

Soon everyone was gathered around the map, which displayed a wireframe hologram of a view of Starkiller Base's surface, and the urgent strategy meeting commenced.

"The scan data from Snap's reconnaissance flight confirms Hester and Finn's report," Poe said, pointing toward the data.

Snaps nodded. "They've somehow created a hyper lightspeed weapon built within the planet itself."

"A laser cannon?" Brance, one of the many people Hester had been introduced to, exclaimed.

"We're not sure how to describe a weapon of this scale," Snaps said lowly.

His voice wavered, giving way to his underlying fear. Hester licked her lips. She could understand why; anyone who was an enemy to the First a Order would look upon the sheer massiveness of Starkiller Base and falter, and become entrenched in a well of despair as they wondered how they could possibly take on a weapon of that magnitude. Hester had felt that all too many times during her time on the base, and overseeing the weapon's construction. The mere memory of its power caused her insides to freeze over with a clammy fear.

"It's another Death Star," Major Ematt breathed. Hester glanced over at him. From the evident fear in his voice, she knew that he understood exactly what they were up against, and had seen the horrors such a weapon causes; undoubtedly, he had been around for when the previous Death Stars were operational, and had memories of them he would much rather forget.

"I wish that were the case, Major," Poe said gravely. He activated a button, bringing a projection of the Death Star to view. "This was the Death Star." He pressed another button, and the Death Star continued to shrink and shrink to make room for the projection of Starkiller Base since its size demanded almost the surface area available. "This is Starkiller Base."

There was outbreak of shocked and horrified voices as those assembled digested the information. Many eyes were wide, blood drained from several faces, and Hester could sense the rise of panic within the room. She could understand why; Death Star, the most dangerous weapon previously known to the galaxy, was dwarfed by Starkiller Base - even, to some degree, looking insignificant and harmless when put right against the new threat.