“I agree. How do you suggest we get these ships?” Leia asked.
“We could steal them,” Norra offered. “The First Order’s actively building fighters. You”—she pointed to Charth—“just said so.”
Charth nodded. “The rumor is the Corellian shipyards are running continuously to meet the quotas.”
Poe slapped his hands together. “Then we go to Corellia.”
“Too high-profile,” Wedge countered. “And we don’t have enough people to stage a raid.”
“Send me in with a handful of pilots and I’ll get your ships for you,” Poe said.
Leia raised a hand. “Wedge is right. We can’t risk the few pilots we have to liberate a handful of ships. We need a more strategic plan.”
Poe thought to argue but stopped himself. Hadn’t he just sworn to be better? Leia looked at him expectantly, like she knew he hated holding his tongue, but he didn’t rise to the bait. She smiled approvingly. Well, that was something, he supposed.
“Bracca.” That was Shriv. Eyes turned to him and he shrugged. “It’s just a thought.”
“Bracca is a junker planet,” Agoyo said. “I know it. I have a sister who moved there for the work and joined the Scrapper Guild. I didn’t go with her because I wanted to fly, but…” He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “…it pays good.”
“We don’t need junk,” Poe said. “We need good ships. Usable ships.”
“Bracca has become the place that the First Order sends any and all claimed New Republic ships to be decommissioned and junked,” Finn told the room. “It’s bound to be a treasure trove of the kind of ships we want. Parts, too. We could fix up those X-wings out there. Besides, beggars can’t be choosers, and let’s face it. We’re beggars.”
A sound, and they all turned. It was Connix, and she stood breathless at the door, like she had run there.
Poe’s pulse sped up. Surely the enemy was not already at their door.
“A message came in on the Millennium Falcon,” Connix said, eyes on Leia. “From Maz Kanata. She said you’d want to see it immediately, or I wouldn’t have interrupted.”
“Can you patch it through?” Leia asked.
Connix looked to Yendor, and he nodded. Charth stepped to Connix’s side as she lifted the datapad in her hand. They conferred and then Connix entered the proper commands. The inventory lists faded and in their place rose an almost life-sized projection of the diminutive space pirate.
“Greetings, Leia.” Maz’s voice echoed in the oversized room. She looked around. “I see you’re doing well collecting your allies to you.”
Leia’s smile was small and tight. “We would be better if you had joined us.”
“Ah, of course, of course. But the ways of the Force are mysterious, and it was not my time.”
Leia seemed to bristle momentarily, but her voice was calm and amicable when she spoke. “I hear you have news for us, Maz.”
“Yes! Did Dameron tell you of the list?”
“A rumored list of First Order political prisoners and dissidents,” she confirmed.
“It’s not just a rumor anymore. I’ve seen it. Well, parts of it.”
Murmurs around the room until Leia lifted a hand to silence them. “How?”
“A rule I live my life by: If you have anything worth stealing, someone will eventually steal it.”
Leia’s voice lifted, amused. “Someone stole the list?”
“Fortunately, the thief who has acquired it is an old acquaintance of mine.”
“Will they give it to us?”
“Hard to tell. Nifera can be mercurial. She likes games.”
“We have to play a game for it?”
“Not exactly, but then again…” Maz shrugged. “She’s holding an auction at her birthday party. Invitation-only to the party, and the auction will happen sometime during the event. List goes to the highest bidder. You know how thieves are.”
“When and where?”
“The party will be held on Corellia, in Coronet City. As for when, you’ll just have to be ready to move quickly when the information comes in. I should know soon.”
A soft murmur of surprise drifted around the room, but Poe grinned. The auction gave them another reason to go to Corellia. “As long as we’re in Coronet City, might as well pick up some ships,” he said.
“The Force does work in mysterious ways,” Leia murmured. Louder, she said, “Maz, you said it’s invitation-only? Can we—”
“I’ve already taken care of it. Two invitations secured. One for a handsome but unscrupulous profiteer from Canto Bight and his junior business partner, and one for the ambassador of Ryloth and guest. It’s the best I could do under the circumstances. You’ll have to improvise.”
“Who’s the profiteer from Canto Bight?” Poe asked, confused. “There’s no one like that with the Resistance.”
“Well, of course not, Dameron. I made him up. Pick someone, whoever you like. But,” she added, leaning forward with a wicked smile, “I was thinking of you when I said he was handsome.” She winked.
Poe frowned. Stronghammer, who was still standing beside him, laughed, slapping a hand against his back. “The little woman has you there,” he said. “You are a handsome man.”
Poe wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he said nothing.
“Thank you, Maz. We accept the invitations,” Leia said, saving Poe from further embarrassment.
“Leia,” Rieekan said. “How do we know this list is even real?”
“Who said that?” Maz asked, leaning forward and adjusting her spectacles. “Hmm…it’s real because I just confirmed it’s real. Didn’t you hear me? I’ve seen it.”
“You said you saw a partial list. So even if we concede it’s real, how do we know it’s useful?”
“It doesn’t have to be useful,” Poe cut in. “Those are people being unjustly held. People who were willing to speak out for what’s right. It’s our duty to free them.”
“They could be friends and family,” Norra added. “Poe’s right. We should help them.”
“And we will,” Leia said. “But Rieekan has a point. Our funds are limited. Before we commit to spending them at some thief’s auction, we should know more.”
“We could just steal it,” Shriv said. “I mean, the list is stolen. We could just steal it again.”
“Is that really the best idea?” Poe asked, unconvinced.
“We’re talking about stealing ships, aren’t we?” Shriv said with a shrug. “What’s the difference?”
“Lifting a few First Order fighters is payback,” Norra agreed.
“I’d rather not turn the Resistance into a den of thieves,” Leia said with a sigh. “But we’ll do what we have to do.”
“You’ll have to pay the reserve to be allowed into the auction,” Maz said. “After that, it’s up to you. But if you get caught with your hand in the biscuit bin, there won’t be a nice trial and punishment, you know. These people will kill you.”
“Your friend sounds charming,” Leia said.
“Meh,” Maz said. “Rich, yes. Charm? Charm was never her strong point.”
“I still think we should see who and what is on this list before we commit to any action,” Rieekan said. “Maz, can you share what you have?”
“It will come over encrypted.” Noise sounded in the background, and Maz turned. “Have to go,” she said when she came back. “Hope I see you in Coronet City. Especially you, Dameron. And wear something nice. This Canto Bight fellow is quite dapper. I hear.” She pressed a palm to her mouth and then threw a kiss in his direction. “Tah!” she said, and then she was gone.
“Did we get the partial list?” Leia asked.
“She just sent the invitations,” Connix said, fingers moving deftly across the datapad. “No list yet.”
Leia nodded. “Thou
ghts, while we’re waiting?” she asked the room.
“Even if we do get to Coronet City and Poe and Charth and whoever are able to lift a few First Order ships, it’s not enough,” Shriv said. “We’ll still need more.”
“I agree,” Leia said. “That’s why I want you to go to Bracca. Put a team together. Take whoever you need and go get as many starfighters as you can.”
Shriv laughed. “You want to give me command of a squadron?”
“I do.”
“We really are desperate,” he quipped.
Leia tilted her head. “What was your first clue?”
“Okay, okay.” He lifted long-fingered hands in surrender. “That’s what I get for opening my big mouth, I guess. All right.” He turned to Pacer Agoyo. “You, kid. What are you doing?”
“What?”
“That’s what I thought. You’re on the team. And Zay, too.” He scratched at his nonexistent nose. “Who else? Hey Stronghammer, want to go get some junk?”
“Leia,” Wedge said, moving around Shriv, who continued to list off possible team members. “I know Maz thinks Poe should go after the list, but I think I should lead the team to Corellia.”
Leia glanced at Poe, and he stepped close so that he could hear.
“I’m listening,” she said.
Wedge gave Poe a tight smile. “No offense, Dameron, but I was born there. I know Coronet City. I can get that list for you.”
Poe shrugged. He wasn’t sold either way. He’d prefer a battle out in the open, something he could take on face-to-face. Sneaking around in a disguise wasn’t his preferred style, really, but he’d do what Leia wanted him to do.
Leia held up a hand. “Slow down, Wedge. I’m not convinced this is the best use of our resources, yet. Let’s see the list before we start making plans to—”
“It’s here,” Connix said. “Transmitting now…”
They all turned back to the holo and waited. Anticipation thrummed through the air. Poe suspected that many people in the room had friends and family members lost to the First Order. To think that some could be alive, could be found. It was a lot to ask.
Finally the holo cleared and a graphic of the First Order appeared across the screen, the sixteen-rayed sun with the hexagon in the center, a symbol Poe had come to hate. After a moment, the insignia scrolled up. The header SUBVERSIVES appeared, followed by a list of scrambled names and last known locations. Poe squinted, reading through the list.
“Hey Poe,” Finn said. “You’re finally on someone’s most-wanted.”
Poe frowned, looking for what Finn had seen. There was someone with a first name P and last name D followed by a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. It could be him, but it could easily be any number of individuals with his initials. How many could that be in the galaxy? Billions? But then the last known location was clearly listed as Crait. That narrowed the likelihood by a couple of factors.
He quickly skimmed the list for other names with Crait beside them. There were half a dozen more. Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the First Order knew who they were.
“This is an assassination list.” Norra was staring at the hologram, face ghostly in the reflected light. “This is why we can’t find our allies. They’re hunting them down, one by one.”
“Well, they’re not going to get us,” Finn said firmly.
Norra’s eyes cut briefly in his direction, face doubtful. Poe had to agree. Confidence was great, but there was something chilling about realizing the First Order knew you by name and was actively trying to find you.
The list broke off after several encrypted names with the last location listed as Castilon and another list appeared, this one headed CURRENTLY DETAINED. The list, much like the first, included encrypted names of individuals identified only by their initials, but instead of LAST KNOWN LOCATION there was a CURRENT LOCATION listed for them. In addition was a column headed CONVICTION. There, titles were listed—senator, diplomat, local union leader, business owner, celebrity, athlete—followed by the “crime” the person had been detained for. Poe whistled low and distraught. The crimes read like a joke, except they were all too serious—speaking ill of the Supreme Leader, loitering in a restricted area, questioning an official directive, failure to comply with a direct order.
“So this friend of Maz’s, the thief, she can decode these names?”
“That’s my understanding,” Leia murmured, gaze focused on the list.
“It’s smart,” Wedge said. “The auction list, I mean. Offer enough information to make people think that someone they know is on the list but with no guarantees.”
“People will pay their last credits for even the possibility of finding their missing loved ones,” Norra agreed.
“When it could all be a false hope,” Snap said. “Foolish people and foolish dreams.”
“Nothing foolish about hope,” Rey said quietly, but Poe heard her.
“These titles…” Nasz said. “These are people from all walks of life, not just those directly associated with the New Republic. Did they arrest anyone who has ever spoken against the First Order?” She sounded impressed.
“Looks like it,” Snap said. “Hey, C. H, athlete. Could that be Cutar Har? The grav-ball champion?”
“I thought he was dead,” Norra said. “Didn’t he die in the Turclom Riots?”
“Apparently not,” Wedge said. He lifted a hand as if to touch a finger to the hologram.
“We’ve got to help these people,” Finn said.
“Agreed,” said Poe. “And look at some of those other titles. Senator, diplomat. These could be the leadership we’re looking for. What do you think, General?” He turned to Leia and sucked in a surprised breath.
Leia stood with her hands braced against the table. She looked like she had aged years in only a few moments. Her head was bowed, and instinctually, Poe reached to steady her. She was frail under his hands, her shoulders trembling. When she looked up, her eyes were filled with tears, but her lips curved in an incredulous smile.
“What is it?” Poe asked, confused by her reaction. “Are you okay?” Maybe this had all been too much. She should be resting; it was his job to lead now. “Do you need to take a break?”
“It’s the list,” she said, and there was disbelief in her voice. Disbelief and pure joy. “I-I never knew. I thought he was gone.”
“Who?” he asked. He looked back at the list, but none of the initials were familiar.
“An old friend,” Leia said. She patted Poe’s hands, still resting on her shoulders, his arm holding her up. She straightened and he let his hands drop. “And if I’m reading it right, he’s being held on Coronet City.”
“Leia?” That was Rieekan.
“I could be wrong,” she admitted. “But look.” She pointed to a line halfway down the CURRENTLY DETAINED list. The initials were R. C., the conviction read “Senator—Crimes against the state, conspiracy, murder,” and, sure enough, the location was Coronet City.
“Another coincidence?” Rieekan asked.
“It doesn’t feel like a coincidence,” Leia murmured.
“Rieekan’s right. It could be a trap,” Norra said. “Bait to get us to Coronet City.”
“No,” Poe said. “The First Order doesn’t know we want ships from their shipyards and they likely don’t know this list is even stolen yet, much less being auctioned off in Coronet City.”
“Who is R. C., Leia?” Rieekan asked.
“Someone I thought long dead.”
“False hope,” Snap said, gently.
Leia straightened. “You’re right, of course. I’m not unaware that the chances of this being my old friend are…unlikely. But it fits. And we’re going to be there anyway. And I just…” She shook her head, as if to clear it.
“So we’re going after the list?” Poe asked.
Leia looked around the room, taking in the nods of affirmation. “Yes. And the ships. And, if you can, Senator Casterfo.”
“Leia,” Yendor breathed, sounding surprised. “Do you think it could be?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded once.
“And if we can’t?” Poe asked. “If he’s not there, or it’s not him?”
Leia exhaled, and the light that had brightened her face moments ago faded. “Then I’m a fool. But it doesn’t change our mission. We rescue those prisoners, anyway.”
Poe nodded. It was smart. They needed a win, and rescuing those prisoners would certainly be a win. If some of them turned out to be leaders, well, that was just the bonus. The real prize was the SUBVERSIVES list. That list could be the future of the Resistance. And if they meant to find that future, which was no doubt scattered across the galaxy, they would need ships to do it. And that’s where Bracca came in.
Three missions. Three teams. Poe turned to Shriv.
“Do you have your team together?”
“At your service,” the Duros pilot said. “Ready to go get us some starfighters.”
“Good.” Poe pointed to himself. “I’ll lead the team to retrieve the list of subversives and galaxy-wide prisoners.”
“I’ll join you,” Charth said. The Twi’lek man smiled, showing pointed teeth. “That second invitation was for Ryloth’s ambassador. That would be me.”
“Or me,” Yendor said, lightly.
“Of course, Father. I didn’t mean…”
Yendor waved him off. “I’ll stay here with Leia and oversee operations. I leave the sneaking around to younger men.”
“We need a third team to go after those prisoners; it looks like they are being held in Coronet City,” Poe said.
“I’ll do it.” That was Wedge. “I know Coronet City.”
“I’m with you,” Norra said immediately.
“Good,” Poe said. “Get the rest of your team together and be ready to leave on my word.”
Everyone broke apart at Poe’s unspoken dismissal, dividing into their teams to hammer out logistics. Leia drifted to Poe, looking bemused.
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