Chapter Twenty
Poe knew that Leia would never approve of his actions. She had ordered everyone to stay away from the First Order. To wait and see what their enemies were up to. But Poe couldn't stand around any longer. Leia was isolated on Kashyyyk. She couldn't see how everyone in the galaxy was being manipulated.
The trial was all anyone could talk about. It was on every screen and holoprojector. Hux and other high-ranking officials had been eviscerated by the prosecution. The evidence against them was overwhelming. It should have made him happy, but the victory was hollow because it didn't bring an end to the First Order. No, instead people clamored to them for aid.
Fools, Poe thought. How could you beg for help from the very people who took from you in the first place? Something was horribly wrong, and Poe had to find out what it was. He would never believe that the First Order had changed. Somehow, they were deceiving the entire system.
So, he broke into a First Order distribution center. He was going to find the evidence he needed to bring them down.
The building was sparsely populated and mainly by service droids. Poe crept along in the shadows, avoiding detection. Using his plasma cutter, he carefully opened one of the metal crates. Rummaging around, he couldn't find anything other than the medical supplies indicated on the crate's shipping manifest. Poe's confusion deepened. What were they up to? There had to be something here, he just had to find it.
He planted a small tracking beacon in the crate. Perhaps the First Order wasn't delivering the supplies to populations that needed it. Perhaps they were selling it to one of the galaxy's many nefarious warlords or gangsters. With all the loses the First Order had sustained, they had to be short on funds. It would be just like them to pretend to give aid only to sell the supplies to the highest bidder.
Poe needed to get out of there. He had lingered too long already. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, like he was being watched.
I am just being paranoid, he told himself. If they spotted me, they would be after me.
He reversed the settings on his plasma cutter and sealed the crate. The tool was amazing. It repaired the exact damage that it made, making his actions undetectable. He would track where these supplies were being delivered to. Then, the galaxy would finally see the First Order for what it really was.
Keeping low, Poe exited the facility without issue. Now all he had to do was wait and see. Soon, he would have the evidence that he needed.
….
"Lieutenant, play back the footage again."
The lieutenant hurried to complete his orders. "Commander, why didn't we arrest the intruder?"
Not looking up for the monitor, the Commander replied in a bored tone.
"The Supreme Leader has other plans in mind for the so-called rebels. Arresting this one individual does not serve our needs."
The lieutenant still looked confused but was clearly too uncomfortable to ask another question. "Of course, Sir. I see."
The Commander wanted to snort. No, the Lieutenant clearly didn't see but he was in no mood to educate him. Dismissing the young officer with a wave of his hand, the Commander transmitted the data file directly to Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. The Supreme Leader would be most pleased with the footage.
The rebel fools were playing right into their hands.