(01.2020) A/N: It's been a while since I wrote this, but having seen The Rise of Skywalker, I have some new energy to attempt a continuation of this thread. I already have a couple new chapters ready. Thank you to those who discovered this in the interim. I hope to give you more of this and will try to add to it as my schedule allows. Enjoy (and please leave feedback).

(04.2018) A/N: Hello, everyone! I'll try not to put in notes too often, but I want to do you a solid and set up what you're about to read.

I'm attempting to write a canon-compatible fic set between TLJ and Episode IX. As I want this to still fit even when IX comes out, I've kept progression of things to only what seems likely to happen in between the films. For example, in this story, Poe has received a promotion, as it seems likely Poe will advance in rank in the Resistance.

Also, Episode IX was meant to be Leia's film, as TFA was Han's and Luke's was TLJ. Since it seems to be a safe bet that Disney/Lucasfilm will not recast Leia, she will not get that opportunity. This fanfic is my attempt to remedy that. Though Poe and Rey are the leads of this story you're about to read, this is also very much Leia's story.

I hope you enjoy. And please feel free to leave a review or send a pm. I always enjoying hearing feedback.

May the Force be with you, always.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The Resistance lives! After a narrow escape from the clutches of the FIRST ORDER, the movement continues its fight to preserve and protect the galaxy from another tyrannical regime.

As the galaxy encroaches onto a period of a full-scale war; many planets, systems, and other enterprises are quick to make allies with either side, while some try to remain neutral.

Sensing war will eventually come to his planet, King Cyrin of Casertta, a world with staunch isolationist policy, secretly dispatches a communique to General Leia Organa pleading her to persuade his people…

The Jade Dagger was one of the latest gifts bestowed upon the Resistance. Donated on behalf of an anonymous supporter, the green plated Nubian starship seemed to General Organa little more than a well-intentioned, but useless show of support. It was a pleasure cruiser more than anything else. The limited armament would be useless in a skirmish. The temptation to sell it off occurred, as the credits were needed, but as the years had taught Leia—trust in the Force. As is the destiny of many innocuous things, there would be a purpose. Then came the holo from King Cyrin.

"General Organa," the king began. "It's been too long."

"I wish it hadn't," said the general.

It had been years since they had seen each other face to face, even by holo. Back when the lines on their faces were from the stress of war and not age. Cyrin appeared as regal as Leia remembered: confident stance, piercing gaze, and the coolest demeanor. He always looked stern, even when he wasn't.

"You'll understand my hesitancy, on account of several reasons," he said.

The conversation was not an easy one. On the forefront, Casertta had lost faith in large government bodies. For millennia, the planet had long held its own in the galaxy. Then the Clone Wars came, a war on such as scale that hadn't been seen since before the formation of the Republic. Growing fearful, the Caserttan parliament motioned to bid entrance into the Republic. Both would have something to gain: Casertta would gain the protection of the Republic and the Republic, a stock in the planet's plasma core as well as their advanced shield engineering. Then the war ended. The Republic became the Empire and Casertta found themselves no longer as allies, but slaves. When the Empire was defeated and replaced with the New Republic, Casertta turned down the invitation to join.

"I do," she said.

And another reason: Prince Errol, the king's youngest son, had joined the Resistance. Cyrin wasn't pleased when his son announced his intentions, but could not bear to extinguish his fire in his heart. He knew the threat that was lurking on the edge of the galaxy. Even if the Senate didn't believe the threat of the First Order, he did. After much persuasion, Cyrin released his son: but with restriction. He was to enlist under an assumed name. He would serve for only one year. Nobody was to know who he was—save General Organa. If his involvement was widely known, the political ramifications on Casertta could potentially be staggering.

"It is becoming more and more unreasonable to ignore this conflict, General. Though my parliament is insistent to otherwise do so. I fear if we don't decide our place in this conflict, it will be decided for us."

"War has a way of doing that."

"Yes," he said. He took a slight pause. "I understand the First Order doesn't have the reach of the Empire, but I fear even then we wouldn't stand a chance against them. I know my world. We won't surrender. They'll burn us to the ground and I do not wish to see that happen."

"Neither do I."

"At the moment my hands are tied. I can show them our need for strong allies, but they'll fear a return of the past. And I can't use my son's involvement in your cause—at least not yet. But, should the Resistance need our aid, they might be persuaded."

"We gladly would welcome it. I can already see the relief utilizing your shielding would bring."

"Then, General Organa, on behalf of the royal house of Casertta, I extended my invitation for a personal appearance before Parliament at its next session."

"A personal appearance?"

The request stunned the general. It was not an unexpected ask, and not even unreasonable. However, the Resistance was in the midst of reorganization. Though they've more than made up for their recent losses, there was still trouble assembling all the cells coherently. And time to do so was swiftly running out.

"I understand if you'd rather transmit yourself, but I assure you that a personal appearance would go along for an agreement with Casertta."

Leia turned away from the holo for a moment to think. Her eyes turned to the floor, but the king's maintained their stance. Though it would be a difficult balance, Leia knew this offer was too good to pass up. The Resistance was going to need every ally and resource it could muster. With confidence, Leia returned her attention.

"When is the next session?" she asked.

"In three days' time."

"I'll be there."

The king's face barely contained his gratitude.

"I thank you, as will my people. May the Force be with you."

"And to you."

In a war, the Jade Dagger was useless, but as a vehicle to world reluctant to join a worthy cause, it could be everything. There was a temptation to arrive on Casertta with a trademark Calamari cruiser and a fresh fleet of X-Wings. Exhibit the might of Resistance, give a show of strength and assurance to the people. This was an Imperial tactic, though their ere was utilizing it as a fear tactic rather than willing recruitment. Also, supplies were thin. Should there be a sudden crisis and the fleet wasn't available because it was showboating, Leia wouldn't know how to live it down. This was going to a peaceful mission. Casertta needed to know the Resistance didn't want to take over. The Resistance needed to know Casertta would help them. A ship of peace just might be the solution. How strange and mysterious the Force works.

Rey reached out to the Force. In her chambers, she sat cross-legged, eyes closed, and deep in meditation. She felt the flow of life move around her. Though alone, she wasn't. She felt the work of her comrades on the outside of her walls. The scurrying of droids, rushing to deliver communiques. The deceitful stillness of space.

Peace.

This connection granted an intimacy she had never known before. Life on Jakku was a lonely one. One always had to be on guard. Betrayal was expected. Her connection with the Force brought her a closer connection to life. To her, she described it as syncing her heartbeat and her breath with all other life and following the pattern until they were one. In the Force everything was unified.

Before her laid a couple of the sacred texts, opened. In between them a datapad. Some of the texts had been written long before Aurabesh was a common tongue. As it turned out, Major Emmat had studied ancient linguistics and when time permitted, helped translate passages. Time though was becoming a precious resource. Even now, was a rare quiet moment. Rey couldn't recall the last time an available block this long had come. Too long. Each day had begun to blur into another. When did today separate from yesterday and tomorrow from today? It had been difficult to keep up.

Always in motion is the future and many possible futures there are.

These words seemed to constantly come to mind. She never recalled anyone speaking them to her or overhearing them elsewhere. And it wasn't as if she audibly heard them either. They were felt within her. They had come to her during her last meditation and stuck with her since. Perhaps this time would yield more wisdom.

She took a breath.

The moment was cut short by a knock outside her door. Rey's eyes flicked open. She disliked interruptions. The pullback into her surroundings was jarring if she didn't initiate it.

Rey remained in place. With a flick of her hand, and the Force, she opened her door.

"Commander Rey," said an eager electronic voice. "The General wishes to speak with you immediately. It seems to be an urgent matter."

Rey turned toward the other end of the room to retrieve her boots.

"Did she say what this is about?" she asked the droid.

"I'm afraid not," Threepio replied. "Only that the General wishes to see you at once."

"I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, very well then. I shall inform the General at once."

Threepio trotted off. Rey heard a brief chortle of whistles and beeps before she closed the door again and Threepio giving a fussy response. Rey quickly prepared herself for the meeting. There was no telling what this could be about.

Before she left, she took one more look over the texts. I can't wait this long again, she thought to herself. The Resistance needed an edge—and having a Jedi would be a considerable one. But if there was no time to study, there was no time to become one. The appearance of Luke Skywalker on Crait had brought a considerable boost of morale. The members that were present continue to tell the tale with a glee to the new recruits, even now many months after the fact. A Jedi was a bearer of hope. People felt better; confident. Sometimes having hope was the difference between victory and defeat. Rey promised herself to return as soon as her meeting with Leia was over.

There is no cause for concern as to Poe Dameron's loyalty to the Resistance. A through and through patriot who will accept the call of duty and all that's required of him. He had recently been given promotion in the ranks, which came along with more responsibilities, more tasks, and a lot of paperwork. Between sorting various documents and stock orders or single handedly going up against a Dreadnaught, Poe would rather take the latter. But at the moment, paperwork was what the Resistance required of him. It was made somewhat better when he could sit in his X-wing and pretend he was knocking out a TIE fighter with doc he signed.

Across the hangar, Rose Tico inspects a new shipment of X-wings: eight T-70 models. A surprise gift from a collector on Riosa. For the previous two decades, they'd essentially been museum pieces. And while technically operational, it appeared a previous owner took preemptive measures for any accidents, as the weapons systems were completely gutted. Now, she was making a list of everything they'd need to rebuild them, down to the last bolt and coil. Poe shuddered at the thought of more paperwork.

As if to rescue him from that nightmare, the hangar echoed with a familiar chirp.

Poe lifted the canopy and rose from the cockpit.

"What's going on, buddy?" he shouted to his droid.

BB-8 chirped a reply.

"Leia? Meeting? Urgent?" Poe said, barely containing his excitement. "Say no more!"

Poe hopped out of X-wing and dashed for the corridor. His boots squeaked as he made his speedy journey. He could barely contain his excitement. Poe Dameron was not designed for desk job duties, and if General Organa has urgent business for him, it was likely not to look over order forms or some other sleep inducing doc. Adventure and espionage filled his mind. Exploits. Danger. His eyes saw the future, and completely blind to the present.

For a second, he thought he heard a voice call his name, and then the next, he'd fallen on the floor. He sat up and took a second to reacquaint himself.

"I'm so sorry," said the voice.

Poe looked up and saw her. Rey extended a hand and helped him up.

"Thanks," he said.

"What's the hurry?" she asked.

"I was on my way to see the General."

"So was I."

"She called you too?"

Rey nodded. They continued down the corridor together.

"I wonder what this is all about," Poe said.

"If she wants us, it must be serious," Rey said.

"Don't get cocky."

"I'm not," she said with some fluster. Poe grinned.

As a matter of practicality, Leia had done little to decorate or furnish her office. The near frequency of moving from one base to another, or a starship to another, prevented her from holding onto a large number of material goods. Despite her clout, there was little she even personally owned anymore. Her space was basic: a desk, a chair, an imitation Alderaanian rug, and a holoportrait featuring her childhood self along with her adoptive parents.

Poe and Rey stood across from the General, who sat behind her desk. She went straight into the assignment:

"The king of Casertta wants to join with the Resistance, but his people do not. If you know their history, you know their hesitancy. And I sympathize. I do. However, if they don't join us, there is no doubt the First Order will soon swoop on them."

Leia pressed a button on her desk. A holo of Casertta appeared over the desk.

"Casertta is one of the few plasma core planets in the galaxy. They also possess a rare ore that when makes contact with the plasma, purifies it. And their knowledge of shield engineering was beyond the understanding of either the Republic or Galactic Empire. So, no doubt the First Order will want it. The good news is we're more desperate and we'll fight harder for it."

Poe and Rey looked at each other, both confused as to the direction of the conversation. To them it was sounding like a prelude to announcing an invasion plan. This wasn't how Leia normally operated.

"So, what's our role in this?" Poe finally asked.

Leia took a moment to look at them. Behold, the future, she thought. She held the brightness of their eyes in her own once. She remembered words Maz Kanata once told her: "if you live long enough, you will see the same eyes in different people." In Poe's, there were aspects of a younger Han and Luke. In Rey, she saw the stillness of her brother's during his later years. She noted a difference in the girl since her return from Ahch-To. Though be fair, she hardly knew her before then. Maybe she had always been like this. Something insider her believed otherwise.

"I've been invited to address their Parliament to bid for their membership."

She turned to Poe and addressed him.

"You're doing well in your new duties," she said. "I know filling docs and taking on less than action is not what gets you out of bed. There's a lot required as you move up, a lot of sacrifice. A lot of tedium."

"Don't worry, General. You know I've got you," he said.

"I can't do this forever. You're going to lead us one day. I sense it coming. You will join me in addressing the Parliament."

Poe nodded.

"And Rey," Leia said, as she turned. "It never hurts to have a Jedi on hand, and especially on this world. Caserttans have a long-held reverence for the Force. Having a Jedi would be a good card for our deck, as I assume theirs'll be stacked against us."

Rey flashed a brief smile. Though she herself didn't feel like a Jedi, being called one, gave her a feeling of pride. At least her effort on this path was being recognized.

"I'll do whatever you need me to do."

Leia smirked. "Merely your presence may be enough, but if not, I'm confident you'll rise to the occasion. You are dismissed," Leia said.

Poe and Rey turned to make their exits, but as they were about to leave Leia called out.

"Another moment please, Poe" Leia asked of him. He returned to his previous spot and looked toward Leia. Her gaze fell down and she held a pause. Poe didn't need to be Force sensitive to know something was off about this moment. Whatever words Leia had for him were going to carry a serious weight. He braced himself.

"There's something you may need to know," Leia started.