“Contingency Plan” - From a Certain Point of View

"Contingency Plan", by Alexander Freed, comes from the perspective of Mon Mothma. This story follows "Grounded."

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WARNING: This is a plot summary of the short story, spoilers ahead:

Mon Mothma gathers up the data pads that essentially represent everything that would be left of the Rebel Alliance. The data pads contain all the records, safe houses, stolen Imperial documents, and coded frequencies for the Rebel cells that remain away from Yavin. Her entire life's work is reduced to a metal suitcase full of data pads. She and Jan Dodonna have a final goodbye, and Mothma leaves Yavin, just a ahead of Leia's arrival. She wants to see Leia, but knows it would be fruitless to try to have her come along. Her last order to Dodonna is to ensure that every available droid is ready to analyze the battle station plans as soon as Leia arrives.

Mon and her aide, Cianne, are whisked away by a shuttle. Cianne discusses ways to hide, but Mon knows that hiding from the Empire now would not allow her to continue her work. The rebel cells have all gone to ground, and it would be unlikely she'd be able to reach them once Yavin is destroyed. It would be crushing blow to the Alliance, and the remaining members would seek to blend back into the Imperial Galaxy. But they'd have a hard time getting any help from Rebel sympathizers, who might be willing to risk themselves, but not their planets, in a futile attempt to fight back. Cianne tries to contact Yavin, as agreed with Dodonna, every 90 minutes, but there's no communication. The comms officers might be having trouble reaching the ship, or they might be occupied with last minute prep, or they might be all gone.

Mothma has only one course of action. Return to Coruscant as a member of the now-dissolved Imperial Senate, and surrender to the Emperor. She believes the Emperor would spare her life, although she would never have freedom again. Her presence on Coruscant, even as a humiliated prisoner, might be her only hope to inspire other to somehow continue, but she didn't think much about the possibilities, only that it might be the only one. She begins to write her letter of surrender to Palpatine, and feels the burden of the previous two decades slowly lift off her shoulders.

Cianne leaves the cabin to check the comms with the pilot, and Mon decides to leave all the data pads underneath the seat of the shuttle. Cianne and the pilot would find them, and they would decide what to do with them. They were young enough to choose their own destinies. Suddenly, Mon heard laughter from the cockpit. It made no sense, but Cianne burst into the cabin to let her know that the Death Star was destroyed, and they had won.

Mon has a change of plans. The Alliance survived this, and struck a huge blow to the Empire. It will inspire many others to fight the Empire. Suddenly Mon Mothma feels the weight of her life's work return as she deletes the message of surrender, and once again is burdened with her massive duties. But she doesn't mind.

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