With the threat of Starkiller base removed, the Republic officers surrounding the holotable had turned their attention to another pressing matter, the finding of Luke Skywalker. The data module Poe had recovered was inserted into a matching slot on the holotable, and the information coded within was translated into a translucent image of blue light. Planets and stars hovered in the air, slowly rotating around for the people to be able to see the projection.

"How are we going to use this map?" someone asked. "No planets or systems are designated, and this system doesn't even have a star showing, but we know the planets have to be orbiting something."

"I know it's not much to go on," Leia defended. "But, it's the first actual lead we've managed to collect. We mustn't give up hope."

R2-D2 powered up in the corner of the room, whistling happily. BB-8 zoomed across the floor and had a brief conversation in the beeping and trilling language of droids.

"R2-D2," C-3PO said in surprise as the golden protocol droid came over and joined the group. "You're awake!"

R2 whistled a response.

"What do you mean, you have the missing part of the map?" C-3PO demanded.

BB-8 chirped, and C-3PO turned to look at the smaller droid.

"I don't care if you do believe him," C-3PO declared. "His files have been searched, and the information isn't there."

R2 ignored the denial and leaned back slightly to deploy a retractable central foot and roll across the floor to the holotable. Opening one of the panels on the front of his cylindrical body, R2 used a computer interface and plugged into the table.

The map image currently displayed shrank down to half its former size and moved over to the right side of the table. In the empty space above the left side of the table, a list of programs and files present in R2's memory came up. The files turned into binary number strings, and the final digit of each file flew off in sequence and combined in a unified pattern hovering above the list.

"He split the map, adding a single binary digit to the end of every file in his memory," Leia marveled as she saw the recombination occurring. "Incredible."

When the program R2 was reassembling was complete, he removed the data list from the holographic display and activated the program, creating a secondary map besides the one currently hovering over the right side of the table. The two maps moved together until they were stacked on top of each other. Neither map had a complete version of the galaxy with planets and stars being missing from both, but when combined, it was made whole. A circle on R2's map marked a planet on the other, indicating a single world of significance.

"Would you look at that?" Han said with a smile, pointing out the circle.

"How did you know to wake up and present your half of the map?" Leia asked R2, and the droid beeped an answer.

"R2 says the data module was equipped with a subprogram to create a harmonic frequency when activated," C-3PO explained after confirming the information with the computer. "It's below what most can hear."

R2 whistled.

"I know you heard it in your sleep," C-3PO responded tersely.

"General," a lieutenant said as he rushed into the room with a holodisk in one hand. "You have a priority communication from Coruscant."

Leia held up her hand, reaching out with the Force, and the holodisk flew out of the lieutenant's grip and through the air to her. She plugged the disk into the table, replacing the map with the information encoded on the disk.

"The First Order has invaded sixteen different star systems," Leia read from the transparent documents appearing in the air over the table. "The entire Republic fleet is being mobilized to counter them. I want all ships made battle ready and prepped for launch."

"The raids were just the starting point," Han theorized. "They weaken our defenses with raids and destroy a primary system with Starkiller base prior to the full assault."

"We're going to have to evacuate a number of systems," Leia stated.

"Evacuate?" Rey questioned. "Doesn't the Republic have a fleet? Can't they fight?"

"We have a fleet," Leia confirmed. "But, they're spread across the entire galaxy. The First Order can concentrate their forces and overwhelm whatever we've got in a singular location. We don't have enough ships to fortify every planet and moon with sufficient numbers to repel any attack they might launch. Unfortunately, we're going to have to prioritize what we must defend and evacuate what we can't."

"What about Luke?" Han asked.

"We're going to need every ship to deal with the First Order," Leia answered, slightly hanging her head.

"I can go look for him," Han suggested.

"We need you with the fleet," Leia countered.

"I haven't had a rank in a long time," Han pointed out.

"You've been reinstated," Leia told him. "Luke will have to wait. We don't have anyone to spare to go looking for him."

"Yes we do," Han replied while looking straight at Rey.

"Me?" Rey questioned; her eyes were wide. She held up her hands while shaking her head. "This is too important."

"Exactly," Han confirmed. "It's too important to wait, and we can't go because we have to defend against the First Order. Besides, you'll need Luke to open that holocron of yours. Since I'll be going with the fleet, you can take the Falcon. Chewie can get you where you need to go."

"I don't speak Wookiee," Rey protested.

R2 spoke up in a series of beeps.

"R2 has volunteered to be a translator," C-3PO informed everyone.

"I don't speak droid either," Rey reminded.

"I am fluent in over six million forms of communication," C-3PO declared proudly.

"There's no reason for both of you to go as you could translate for Chewie," Han told the golden protocol droid.

Chewie said something in between a growl and a roar.

"You're right," Han agreed. "Maybe it would be best if 3PO had someone else to talk to."

"Well, really," C-3PO said indignantly.

"Remember something else," Han warned Rey. "Kylo Ren claimed to have recovered the map, so he has a portion of the guide to finding Luke as well. He may or may not be able to decipher Luke's location, so you might end up having some unexpected company."

"I understand," Rey acknowledged, swallowing hard.

   ***   

The Falcon lifted off the landing field and took to the sky. The Republic fighters and transport ships were still being loaded as the base was cleared of all important files and equipment during its evacuation.

Rey sat in the pilot's seat while Chewbacca worked the controls as co-pilot. C-3PO sat behind Chewie while R2 stood beside him. She took a calming breath, trying to remember the lessons Sentis had given her. Inputting the commands in the console, she adjusted their course for orbit while Chewie programmed the hyperdrive.

The clouds ripped past the cockpit, revealing the blackness of space pinpricked with distant stars. Taking hold of the three hyperspace levers, Rey looked to Chewie and got a nod of confirmation. She pulled the levers back, and the stars became streaks of light as the Falcon jumped to hyperspace and headed toward its destination and a possible meeting with Luke Skywalker.