Star Wars VII - Revised and Redacted

Chapter 14: Eye of the Needle

When the Republic ships landed, ground crews instantly went to work, hooking up hoses to refuel them while diagnostic cables were attached to check for any repairs needing to be made. The Millennium Falcon set down nearby.

As everyone disembarked from their respective vessels, a meeting was quickly called. Finn went with Han and Leia. Poe, Chewie, and BB-8 followed quickly along when Han motioned for them to join the group headed for the conference room located near the middle of the outpost.  The group had to cross from the landing field, through the outer corridors and into the central command hub. A lift ride to the eighth floor brought them at last to their destination.

The conference room was filled with people and technology. Computer display screens and access terminals lined most of the walls, only giving space to storage databanks and the doors leading in and out of the room. Technicians working at each terminal received strategic information and downloaded it to data pads for couriers to collect and carry to the military officials near the circular holotable in the center of the room. All conversation stopped as the Leia and her group entered, giving her their full attention.

"Is the information ready?" Leia inquired of a golden protocol droid.

"Yes, General," the droid answered.

The droid turned toward the others with Leia.

"Greetings, I am C-3PO, human/cyborg relations," the droid began.

"Introductions later," Han interrupted. "Let's get started."

"Very well," C-3PO accepted. It shuffled toward the holotable, accessing the controls and bringing up the relevant information.

A Mon Calamari with an admiral's rank insignia on his white uniform began the briefing the moment the information was projected over the holotable in lines of translucent green.

"Even though we didn't think it a viable threat, we've kept an eye on Starkiller base for some time," the Admiral explained in raspy voice. The large, fish-like eyes on the sides of his elongated head blinked slowly as he spoke. "The weapon is built within the planet itself."

"How is it possible to generate enough power for a weapon of that size?" Poe asked.

"It doesn't need power generators because it channels the energy of the sun," Finn volunteered. "The base creates a line of supercharged particles from the sun to the base. As the sun naturally vents into space with solar flares, the energy flows along the line of particles and right into the solar collectors."

"The planetary shields must protect it from attack," the admiral put forward.

"Admiral Akbar is right," Leia agreed. "According to our scans, the number of shields covering the planet would protect it from any amount of bombardment. We'd never get through."

"The shields are lowered over the planet when preparing to fire," Finn told them. "To keep the solar energy from roasting the world and everyone on it, the shields are focused around the solar collection cells and the firing port, but it takes the full power of the shields, leaving the rest of the base vulnerable."

"If the shielding is around the firing port, won't that hinder our plans to attack?" Han questioned.

"In order to not interfere with firing, the shield is in a cylinder," Finn replied. "It only protects the outside of the cannon."

"Wait a minute," Poe interrupted. "Do you mean we can only destroy this thing by attacking down the barrel of a gun on a planet killer?"

"I'm afraid so," Finn admitted. "They knew it would be a weakness, so they planned for it. They have a point defense laser system around the cannon to protect against those kinds of attacks. You'd have to shut that down beforehand if you don't want your ships cut to pieces."

"So, we need to wait for them to begin firing in order for the shield to be redirected," Leia concluded, "land a strike force to take down the point defense lasers, then launch a full out assault on the cannon itself, so the uncontrolled release of the solar energy will destroy the base."

Finn nodded.

"If somebody can take down those lasers, I'll fly down the gun," Poe offered. "I've done crazier things before."

"Name one," a lieutenant challenged.

"Remember that time in the Kadrid nebula?" Poe asked.

"Fine," the lieutenant relented.

"We'll take down the lasers," Han stated. "Chewie and me can get in there, no problem."

"You said the same thing about the shield generator on Endor," Leia reminded.

"We got in, didn't we?" Han asked.

"We were nearly killed by an Imperial trap," Leia pointed out.

"It still worked," Han answered with a shrug. "Look, if we don't take that gun down, another star system will end up a debris field. It's worth taking a chance to prevent it."

The mood in the room grew even more serious as the threat they were here to oppose solidified in their minds. It wasn't just the Republic fleet at risk but everyone in the galaxy.

"I know my way around," Finn added. "If you can get me inside, I can show you where to go."

"Good," Han accepted. "While we're there, we'll see what we can do about finding Rey."

As the meeting broke apart into individual groups handing out assignments and specific orders, BB-8 rolled around the edge of the room, pausing at a sheet covered form in the corner. The edge of a mechanical foot protruded from under the corner of the sheet, and BB-8 turned its dome head to examine it closer. Opening one of the access panels on the ball it rode around on, BB-8 extended a mechanical arm and pincer claw to snare the sheet. Rolling backwards, it pulled the sheet away, uncovering a silver and blue astromech droid.

Whistling inquisitively, BB-8 tried to start a conversation. When the other droid didn't respond, BB-8 rolled forward and back to bump into the silent droid a couple of times.

"BB-8," C-3PO said, walking over to join the two droids. "R2-D2 hasn't responded to anyone in quite some time. His circuits and energy cells are working, but he's completely powered down. We don't know what to do for him."

BB-8 lowered its head with a mournful whistle.