Poe sat in a circular room with the other x-wing team leaders. They were poring over a plan of the base on Sullust, trying to figure out what kind of armada the First Order had in place here. From what they could see, the base had the capacity for a number of crafts. Nothing to the scale of a dreadnought, but enough to cause ground assault trouble. And if the First Order knew they were coming, they would have trouble to face before they could even deploy ground forces. General Organa paced around the plan, her arms crossed, deep in thought. Blue leader was proposing his plan for his team.
"My team could fly in from the east and hit their shield generators. Once these are out, we can take out the base's power. That should take care of the air-defence weaponry at their landing bays." Poe shook his head.
"No good. The model they're using on this base has its own independent power source. Impossible to take them out neatly. We'll have to destroy the guns, and we'll lose people." The General stopped and looked at Poe, and with a stab to the heart he was reminded of her daughter, Dara.
"What would you suggest then Dameron?" Poe shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
"The only logical thing to do would be to take down the shields, and have a ground team take out the guns. Then air support can come in. It's a really dangerous plan, but it's the one most likely to work, and the one with the least loss of life." The General continued to stare at Poe, as though trying to see into his mind. Her gaze was piercing, and he well believed she'd be able to see into his soul. He idly scratched his cheek, aware that everyone in the room was staring at him. Some with scepticism, some with approval.
"Whoever we sent in would have to be very efficient and know the weaponry of the First Order very well. The team would have to be resilient, equipped to do the impossible." The General began to pace again, and Poe dug his fingers into cold concrete tier he sat upon. He knew the consequences of what he had suggested. His guts were wrenching. He knew what the General was about to say.
"Finn. His inside knowledge of the workings of the First Order and their weaponry would prove invaluable here. I will mull over what other agents to send in with him in the ground team, but I believe he is the one to send." Poe's stomach did a sickening somersault. He had just thrown his friend into the fire. "Black Leader, I want you to provide air support to the ground team. Your team is as specialised as they come. We want to give our forces the best chance. Will you draw fire from the ground team?" Poe broke out into a cold sweat and felt like he would be sick. He was going to stake the lives of his entire team on this mission, and many of them would die, he felt. For the greater good, he told himself.
"Black Team will provide air support, General." She nodded in contemplation.
"Go and debrief your team, Black Leader." Poe stood and nodded. He walked out of the circular room with legs like jelly. The stage had been set. He was to go back into battle again. He was an excellent pilot. He was confident in his abilities, but he was always going to be nervous. Scared. Especially since he had the lives of others in his hands. But this was the reality of war. He went to the hangar to find his team, ready to be put through their paces on drills. He looked around at all their faces. Many of them would die under his command. With a heavy heart, he brought them to attention and started to give them the details.
Poe sat in the canteen with Rey, who had arrived back at base a few days earlier with Finn. Poe had been relieved that things hadn't been awkward between them. They continued forward as friends who had missed each other. Her hands lay flat on the cool metal table, her brows drawn. Poe couldn't think of what to say to her. General Organa was briefing Finn now on his part in the assault on the base in Sullust. Poe couldn't tell her the detais. But he had a feeling she knew the matter was grave, and perilous. They sat together in an uneasy silence, Poe's stomach growling at him with anxiety. Rey looked up suddenly, and hastily stood. Poe looked around and saw Finn entering the canteen with the most unlikely person. Dara. She had stayed behind on Alderaan and would not see Poe. He had had no choice but to leave without her and without saying goodbye. He had the impression she was quite angry with him. Finn's face was blank, and looked like he didn't really want to engage with his feelings on being sent on a suicide mission. Dara's hazel eyes locked onto Poe's. She looked determined and fierce. That could only mean trouble. They both sat with Rey and Poe. Finn filled everyone in on what the General had said. Rey was silent, but her face looked graver and graver with every detail.
"I'm coming with you." she said.
"Absolutely not. We can't risk losing you on a suicide mission. Besides, Poe will be covering us from the air, drawing fire." Both Rey and Dara looked at Poe sternly.
"No." they both said. Poe sighed.
"Orders are orders. And somebody's got to do it." Dara looed disgusted.
"I volunteered to go in the ground team. My mother tried to convince me not to, but I'm the difference between this mission being suicide and not." Poe's stomach squelched uncomfortably again.
"Well then I'm coming too." Rey declared. Nobody argued with her, but Poe felt like he would be sick. He felt responsible for them. He had suggested a ground team. A part of him knew that team would be made up of his friends. "We've all got to do our part… We've all got talents, and power. We need to put them to use." Rey said quietly.
"Where is Uncle Luke?" Dara asked, almost cutting across the girl.
"Off on some covert something-or-other." They all sat in silence for a time. Poe supposed the gravity of the situation was starting to sink in for them. He didn't know if they had ever been in battle before. Proper battle, where hoards of the enemy were trying to do you in. He realised with a start that they were all so young. Poe was the oldest and most experienced out of them. They didn't know what it felt like to come home after a being in a killzone and having to live with yourself. Having to look at yourself after that. Having to see the faces of the dead behind your eyes every time you tried to sleep. In a way the three of them were innocent. Poe felt very sorry for them indeed.
