Aboard the transport, you sat with Leia. She explained to you Holdo's plan and reason for the way she commanded the Resistance. You understood now, but it in now way improved your mood as you struggled to comprehend that Finn was really gone.

You watched as the main ship grew further away. Holdo was still onboard, preparing to sacrifice her life for the greater good of the Resistance. You admired her now, and thankfully had a moment to apologize on behalf of Poe and yourself before you were whisked away on this ship. 

Poe woke up with a start. "No. No, no, no, no!" He got up and ran to the viewport, smacking his hand against it and dropping his head in defeat. 

You called out softly, "Poe."

He turned. "___, thank God. Are you alright?" 

He rushed to you and sat down beside you. You moved closer to Leia and smiled gently. "I'm okay, Poe. Nothing happened. Look."

He looked to where you were nodding to, and he settled down. "What is that?"

"The mineral planet called Crait," you said. "An uncharted hideout from the days of the Rebellion."

"That's a Rebel base?" 

"Abandoned, but heavily armed," you said. "That's what D'Arcy told me, anyway. We'll have enough power to send a distress signal to allies. I didn't know the Resistance had allies." 

 "Of course we do, we..." he trailed off. "So Holdo knew..."

"She knew," you said. "None of us could've known, Poe."

"She was more interesting in saving the Resistance than seeming like a hero," Leia said. 

* * *

Hux had never been happier than when he heard that two Resistance members were captured on board. He was overwhelmed with glee when he approached them, seeing that one of the pair was the traitor who had helped you escape only over two weeks ago.

"Well, well," he mumbled to himself. He slowed to a stop in front of the ex-soldier, who was kneeling before him. It pleased him to see this piece of scum in this position. Almost too gleefully, he lifted his hand and slapped him across the face. "Well done, Phasma."

"Your ship and payment, as we agreed," Phasma said to the man that handed over the Resistance members. 

The shock and betrayal on the faces of the Resistance members only fueled Hux's delight. He chuckled to himself, watching the scene as if it were a live performance professionally put together. 

"You lying snake!" the girl exclaimed, and as she fought to rise up onto her feet, the stormtroopers held her down. 

"We got caught, I cut a d-d-deal," the stammering man managed. 

"Wait," the traitor asked, "cut a deal with what?" 

"Sir, we checked on the information from the thief," an officer said. Hux turned his head; it was your father. "We ran a decloaking scan and sure enough, thirty Resistance transports have just launched from the cruiser."

"He told us the truth," Hux said, nodding. "Will wonders never cease? Our weapons are ready?" 

"Ready and aimed, sir," he said. 

"Fire at will." 

"No, no. No, you can't!" Finn screamed. A stormtrooper grabbed him and kept him down on his knees.

"No!" the girl screeched. 

Hux smiled and chuckled. He lowered himself in front of the traitor. "Tell me, is she still fighting with you all? Has she not been smart enough to flee?" At the look on Finn's face, he knew. "So she is still there. Good. She will die then." 

* * *

A flash of orange made you jump out of your skin. You gasped and grabbed for Poe's arm as he slid out of his seat and stood up slowly. 

"Oh, God," he whispered. 

Your eyes widened. The First Order fleet was shooting at the transports, taking them out one by one, like it was a game. There was nothing to be done. You were now at the mercy of the First Order. 

Even Holdo's plan had failed. 

"Poe, what do we do!?" you exclaimed. 

"There's nothing," he whispered, his voice laced with dread. He sank back down in his seat next to you. "There's nothing we can do." 

"No," you said. You shook your head. "No, we can't just give up." 

"Look around us!" he said. 

"I am!" You stood up. "Leia, do you think we can patch me through to speak to General Hux?" 

"I... am sure we can but why?" she asked. 

"Because... because..." You whirled around to Poe. "If the ships go full speed towards Crait all at once, they can do so while I distract his command. It's the only option I can think of." 

Poe nodded. He ran forward, shouting, "Come on, patch us through to the First Order. Patch us through!" 

* * *

"Sir, we're getting a communication request from one of the Resistance transports," a female officer said, approaching General Hux with a radio. "They are personally requesting for you." 

"That pilot again no doubt, begging for mercy." He smiled. "Allow it. I want to speak to this pilot while he dies." 

"Yes, sir. Here he is." 

Hux smiled and grabbed the communicator with his fist. He held it up to his lips, prepared to make a snarky comment---

"Armitage." 

He froze. His eyebrows furrowed. Behind him, your father stepped forward, your name spilling off of his tongue. 

"Armitage, can you hear me?"

"I --- I can hear you." He cleared his throat. "If you've come now to beg for mercy, then I don't know what to tell you."

"If you think that I'm hoping for mercy, then you're a bigger fool that I already took you for, General."

He sneered. "How dare you---"

"Do you know why I left the First Order?"

"Because you're a coward," he said. 

"No. Because you are. As soon as you became old enough to be respected for your ranking, you became obsessed with it. I lost you so quickly. You were too cowardly to listen to me. Or respect me. And now the First Order will lose, with the Resistance there to watch the remains of your people burn. You wanted a war, Hux? Here it is." 

"You think you can---"

"___! Tell Poe we're alive! We're here! We're---" Finn was cut off by a punch to the face. 

"Finn," you breathed. "Poe's right here. He can hear you."

Hux bit his tongue before he erupted, "If you think your threats can do anything except make you look like bigger fools during your inevitable doom, then you're wrong!" 

"My threats aren't anything but a distraction," you said. "Goodbye, Armitage."

"No! How dare you---" The transmission cut off and he whirled around. "Keep your fire on the transports! I want them dead!"

With the sounds of the two Resistance fighters being kicked to the ground, Hux turned around and stomped off to go back to the bridge, where he would witness the fall of the Resistance firsthand. 

* * *

Your hands were shaking as you stared into the vastness of space. Poe's hand fell on your shoulder. 

"Guys," Connix said. "She's running away."

The main ship began to turn --- began to prepare for a jump through lightspeed. But you knew that Holdo wasn't going to run away. You could sense it. That's why you distracted the general for the moments you had. You knew what she was going to do and how she was going to help the Resistance see another morning.

"No, she isn't," you said. You looked at Poe. "She's going to hit them." 

His eyes widened and he stared forward. You took the hand that was on your shoulder and gripped it tight.

* * *

My threats aren't anything but a distraction.

Hux's eyebrows furrowed with worry. He realized, with a start, that this was what the Resistance had planned. 

Your father pushed forward past him. "No!"

Hux turned. "Fire on that cruiser!" 

Everything around him erupted into flames.