Everything goes silent, the lone exception the sound of the remote clanking against a bomb rack on its way down. Finally, the trigger tips over the edge and falls. Opening her eyes once more, a clear sense of determination painted on her face, Paige kicks the ladder with all her strength. Photo Credit – Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last JediĪutocannons glowing red as they prepare to fire, General Organa sensing the impending doom of her forces, now Tico closes her eyes and clutches a half-crescent medallion on her necklace. Determination on her face, Paige kicks the ladder a final time. Again, and again, Paige kicks the ladder but still the device does not fall to her. The music laid over the scene adds to the tension, and we see Poe Dameron soundless but clearly screaming for the bombs to be dropped. The Bomber continues forward, now moving over the “sweet spot” of the Dreadnought. Again, she kicks, even harder, but it still does not fall. Paige kicks the ladder but it does not fall to her. The trigger, still beeping, is far above, now dangling on the edge of the opening at the top of the ladder.
![tico back bay tico back bay](https://i0.wp.com/brightlightsbigcity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_3142.jpg)
Momentarily unconscious, Tico opens her eyes.
![tico back bay tico back bay](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/T8wAAOSwAc1Zpj0H/s-l640.jpg)
Losing her grip, Paige falls, landing heavy on the floor at the bottom of the weapons bay. Paige reaches for the beeping, blinking weapons trigger laying nearby but as she does, a TIE Fighter blasts the cockpit of the Bomber, killing the pilot and sending fire and shock waves through the cabin. Determination on her face, she frantically climbs the ladder, past the armed bombs in their racks, emerging at the top to find the bombardier, Nix, dead on the floor. “Paige, drop the payload, now!,” Dameron frantically exclaims. “Nix!,” she yells, but there is no reply, only the distinct beeping of the weapons release on the grated floor far above. Exiting the ball turret at the bottom of the weapons bay, she opens the bay doors and calls to the bombardier up above. Why aren’t your bay doors open? You’re the only bomber left, it’s all down to you!” The situation is perilous and the tension is amplified when Dameron frantically contacts the gunner: Suspended above the massive First Order ship, it is the last hope for the small Resistance fleet. Now, this gunner’s Bomber is the only one that remains. Photo Credit – Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Paige Tico’s expression when she sees the other Resistance Bombers exploding. Removing her mask and breathing heavy, her wide-eyes reveal her shock and disbelief. Watching from the ball turret at the base of her Bomber, a Resistance gunner witnesses the destruction. Shredded from the inside, massive detonations hurtle debris into two other B/SF-17s which also erupt into flame. Suddenly, a damaged TIE Fighter crashes into one of the Bombers, unleashing hell. Bombardiers ready their payloads, opening bay doors and arming bombs as the vessels inch closer to “the sweet spot” where they will inflict maximum destruction. But the Resistance does not let up, and the Bombers close the distance with the imposing First Order capital ship which is now aiming its massive autocannons at the Resistance fleet. A B/SF-17 is blasted apart by the green lasers of an attacking TIE. Starfighters on both sides are vaporized. TIE Fighter Squadrons throw themselves against the Resistance attackers, intent on destroying the bombers. Protected by X-Wings and A-Wings in the Resistance starfighter fleet, massive B/SF-17 heavy bombers “in tight formation” slowly move towards the Dreadnought preparing to unleash their payload of proton bombs to destroy the terrifying Man-of-war.Īlthough it’s surface cannons were knocked out by Dameron’s lone assault, the Dreadnought is not defenseless. In this moment, though, the impetuous Commander gives the order to attack. One can easily criticize Dameron for his actions and he is criticized, even demoted, when the Resistance makes its orbital exit from the D’Qar system following the battle. Having taken out the surface cannons on the Dreadnought, Dameron ignores his commanding officer, switching off his communications, intent on scoring a victory against the First Order by taking out the “fleet-killer.” With personnel and equipment safely aboard the vessels of the Resistance fleet, General Leia Organa orders her forces to disengage but Poe Dameron has a different idea. With only seconds to spare, the final Resistance transports flee the surface of D’Qar as the autocannons obliterate the now empty base. Caught in the open during the evacuation of their base on D’Qar, the Resistance confronts an existential moment of crisis as it stares down the barrel of two orbital autocannons, affixed to a First Order Dreadnaught, targeting their base and fleet.