The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 50 - A Failed Plan

The preparations for the evacuation were in full swing when Lieutenant Connix saw the First Order fleet coming out of hyperspace.
Corran looked up at the sky and knew immediately that it was too late to get everything aboard the transports and the few capital ships of the Resistance.
There was just enough time to get the ships into orbit with the equipment and fuel already on board. He made his way to his X-wing, which would take him to General Organa's flagship, the Admiral Raddus. The MC85 star cruiser was formerly named Dawn of Tranquility and had now been renamed after the famous admiral who had been killed in action over Scarif decades ago.

When he arrived on board, he saw Poe Dameron jump out of his X-wing and run to the bridge, followed by his trusty astromech BB-8. The young Jedi wondered what his commander was up to and followed him. A few minutes later, he learned of Poe's daring plan.
"Do you really want to take on the Dreadnought alone, Poe?" he asked Dameron after the ace pilot had explained his plan.
"Of course," the commander answered him. "It's risky, but an experienced pilot can do it, Corran. We need to buy time and take out most of the Dreadnought's turbolasers before Cobalt Squad arrives."
"Then let me do it, Poe."
Dameron shook his head.
"No, Corran, your mother would kill me if anything happened to you."
"But..."
"There are no buts, Corran," Poe interrupted him.
Then he turned to prepare for battle.
Corran watched him go, wondering if he would see his commander again or if the pilot would die trying to buy time for the fleeing Resistance fleet.

The Jedi walked over to one of the viewports.
A few minutes later, he saw Poe's X-wing heading towards the First Order fleet. A few clicks away, it stopped and hovered in space.
Corran frowned and wondered what the commander was up to. It seemed to take an eternity for the X-wing to start moving again. With an extra boost from the newly installed experimental thrust accelerator, designed to give Black One even greater combat speed, Poe's fighter headed towards the Dreadnought and began its bombardment of the turbolasers.
The young Jedi held his breath as he watched TIEs take off and attack the lone X-wing. Still, Poe took out one turbolaser after another. Finally, only one was left, but nothing happened.
Seeing this, Corran cursed softly, having no idea what had happened. He could feel Poe's emotions in the Force, and it wasn't helping him to stay calm. The Jedi's nerves were on edge as the minutes ticked by until Dameron could finally take out the very last turbolaser cannon.

Not too soon, as the MG-100 StarFortress bombers were just arriving. Accompanied by fighters to protect them, they launched their attack on the First Order fleet and the Dreadnought as their main target. But then everything went horribly wrong. The bombers immediately came under fire.
They were too close together, and when one of them was hit, the payload exploded and hit the neighboring bombers. It was an unstoppable chain reaction. The Jedi sensed the fear and desperation of the attacking Resistance fighters. It wasn't long before there was only one bomber left. Corran slammed his fist against the transparisteel of the viewport.
"Sithspawn!"
The very last StarFortress hovered over the Dreadnought and nothing happened.

Corran sensed the emotions of the only survivor on board. At first there was despair, but then the despair turned to determination and resolve. Finally, the bomb bay opened and the proton bombs hit their target. The young man sighed as he saw that the Dreadnought was not the only one to perish in the inferno. The battle was over for now, and the Resistance had paid a heavy price in blood.
The young Jedi turned away from the viewport and made his way to the hangar, arriving just as Poe Dameron landed his X-wing. But before Corran could say anything, the commander stormed past him towards the bridge.