Author Notes: Thanks for the Feedback and the Follows. There will be more coming. Likely in bite-sized chunks.
The skies above Exegol were filled with smoke and fire. Shrapnel rained down on the planet as ship after ship focused on the planet-killer weapons. There were hundreds of battle cruisers. But there were thousands of Them.
The senseless decimation of Kijimi was the breaking point. A planet already under the thumb of the First Order who had already been forced to give their livelihood and future - their children - to their cause. They were the target of example to the rest of the Galaxy. That even if you comply, you are nothing. You are atoms. The Emperor had made a fatal mistake.
An enraged Galaxy had rallied behind the remains of the Rebellion. With Lando leading the way on the Falcon, he had brought back - not simply an Armada - every Free Fighter in the Galaxy who was no longer willing to live in fear. Proving, at last, that evil only prevails when good people do nothing.
"You've got a tie on your six, Black Leader."
"I see them." Poe Dameron punched the accelerator, dodging a bit of space debris as another destroyer blew apart above him. Hundreds of ties raced amongst the fray, trying to cut them off at the pass. Just par for the course. He wasn't going to be distracted from his target.
There were so many of them. So many ships that the Emperor had been building in secret for - who knew how long? All the resources the Empire had stripped from so many planets. Always one step ahead of them, Palpatine had not shown all of his cards. If the Rebellion had not succeeded at the battle of Endor, this was the horror that would have awaited them in the end.
Poe had to make sure that none of these ships reached Open Space. They couldn't be allowed to exist. No one should have such a weapon at their fingertips.
A streak of red light shot across the bow of Poe's X-Wing, breaking apart a chunk of destroyer before Poe reached it to duck around. The Tie-fighter was still on his tail. Unable to shake the damn thing, he opened the com to R2.
"10 clicks, R2. Give me all we got."
The droid did not seem pleased by this request. The pitches of beeps that followed made Poe smile.
"I know it's still back there. I can deal with it when we get these ships down."
The droid whirred away, chittering away in rapid clicks.
"That's an order, R2!" Poe retorted. The engines revved as he hit the throttle. The droid had at least obeyed, despite his reproach.
The X-Wing shot forward at full force, propelling Poe towards the destroyer he had his sights on. This one was massive with heavy shielding on all her sides and heavy guns at her rails. If Poe was a betting man, he'd have put his money on this ship being the Emperor's new Flag ship. It was twice the size of the other destroyers and only General Pryde's Command Ship came close to equaling it in defense.
R2 clicked away behind him as Poe raised his targeting computer. The X-Wing scanned the massive ship, giving Poe a schematic of its exterior. This ship was unlike the others, it didn't have a planet-killing canon on its belly. But the design was familiar. A ventilation shaft that led right to the main reactor below the Command Deck. If he could send a shot through that, it would set off a chain reaction which would tear the ship apart from the inside. Provided he could avoid the rail guns.
"I'm going in!" Poe announced over the coms.
"General, wait!"
But Poe was determined. He was the best pilot in the fleet and the fastest. Years as a Spice Runner had gained him expertise in getting out of trouble. Years with the rebellion had taught him the specs on most Imperial weaponry. His shield could withstand a few shots of those rail turrets. And he was fast enough that he might get by without a scratch. Back up was incoming, he could do it.
"Focus on the turrets."
A burst of orange and yellow erupted above him, Shrapnel rained down as the nearest turret exploded.
"Right! Like that!"
"That wasn't us, Sir!"
"Huh?"
The Tie. The one that had followed him on his assent for the Flag Ship. It was on his right flank now, flying in formation. According to his sensors, it wasn't focused on him at all. It was on the turrets. And that wasn't all, an old-model X-Wing was suddenly on his left.
"We got your tail, make your move, Poe."
R2 chimed enthusiastically as another turret exploded ahead of them, clearing their path.
"I think it's with us," Poe called over the coms. "Focus on the turrets."
The remnants of Black Squadron fell in with several Free Fighters. They formed up with Poe at their head, the Tie on his starboard, and Red Five on his port. Together, they raced the deck of the Flag Ship, taking out canons as they flew.
"I got her in my sights," Poe announced as they neared the base of the Command Tower. "Locking on in 3...2...1...firing!" A direct hit flew down the ventilation shaft and the squadron climbed vertically as the shot did its work. It hit the core of the main reactor and sent a chain reaction through the ship.
R2 beeped away behind him, putting a leash on Poe's elation.
The Tie was cruising at the same altitude now and Poe could see through the orb's windows to the pilot seated at the controls. The droid was right. He couldn't believe it. But he was right.
Poe opened his com to Red Five. "Rey, want to tell me why Kylo Ren just helped us take down the Flag Ship?" Poe asked over the coms.