…
The delegation stands solemnly as Denya floats in a medical capsule onboard the consular ship from Higara. Arrayed in the main hangar stand the crew of Maz’s ship in whatever finery they have stolen. The delegation comes to stand before Rey. She goes on bended knee before them and they look bemused. The leader bids her rise, and she stands awkwardly before them. He asks what she will do, what with the rest of the twelve taken. She doesn’t know but vows to fight to her last breath for their planet and the galaxy. He informs her that the People of Higara are with her in this fight, and until the ceremony of succession the People of the Peaceful Twelve Systems are with Ben, but again she declines their aid. Ben looks at her quizzically. The leader bows and the delegation return to their vessel. Maz and Ben stand to either side of Rey, and Ben asks her what exactly they are planning to do, take up a life of piracy? Maz says that with their scars they both look the part already. She leaves to return to the bridge, dismissing the gathered crew.
Standing in the emptying hangar, Ben says that this is their last chance to take action against the First Order. Rey argues that she’s gotten enough people killed for her and if she faces the First Order it will be alone. Ben shakes his head. He says that she’s a damn fool if she thinks he isn’t going to be with her. The consular ship takes to the air and the heavy blast doors of the hangar groan as the mechanism engages to open them to space. Ben moves towards the opening doors and says that she is also a damn fool if she thinks the people of Higara are helpless. They may be peaceful, he says, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t prepared. The doors open fully to reveal the massed battle fleet of Higara, dozens of fighters and support craft flying alongside the pirate vessel in strict military formation. He says that each system is so prepared. Rey’s eyes grow wide and she takes off toward the bridge, yelling at Ben to follow. He asks what the deal is and she shouts back something about transmission coordinates.
…
On the battered destroyer, Poe sits on a pile of debris in the middle of his bridge with BB-8 at his side, examining the good dozen images before him. Connix is on one of the viewscreens, feeding them reconnaissance images from Coruscant. She relays that Thrawn’s command ship seems to be in orbit around Coruscant, supplemented by Kylo’s fleet of Renegade soldiers. Poe asks if she is sure the other ships are of Kylo’s fleet and she says that the life signs are still clustered in the reconditioning areas.
The other images are taken by their satellites around the rebellious worlds Kylo sought to quell. Lying in wait in the darkness around each one is a Star Destroyer, their markings indicating that they are the rest of Thrawn’s battle fleet. Poe says that with all their strength they might just have a chance against Coruscant. Connix notes that even if they manage to defeat Thrawn on Coruscant, the dozen rebel worlds will be at his mercy. Poe sinks into his pile of debris, consumed with despair.
Suddenly a shout goes up at a console. They are receiving a signal from pirate space near to Gramelon. Poe says to place it on the viewscreen where it obscures one of the previous images of a destroyer. It is the image of the leader of the Higarans. He says that his squadrons stand ready to aid the Resistance. Before Poe can respond there is another ping and another image obscures a destroyer, this time of the planet Y’janis of the twelve systems reporting in. Another transmission and another follow until the board is filled with their images awaiting Poe’s response. Finally one appears from the bridge of Maz’s ship and he sees a very out of breath Rey and Ben standing too close to the camera with Maz on her throne in the background. A cheer goes up from the destroyer’s bridge and Poe shouts joyously that they’re alive. He asks them where they are and if that’s a giant bird in the background, and they say that Maz has come through again. Poe orders tactical maps of Coruscant and the rebel systems and BB-8 projects them across the bridge. He orders his men to get to work on putting together a battle plan. The bridge becomes a flurry of activity while he approaches the image of Ben and Rey. He asks ‘Where’s Chewie?’ Rey responds ‘Where’s Finn?’