Katniss is furious to learn that Haymitch is again exerting control over her. Still, she knows he was right about her unconvincing performance. Haymitch calls a meeting in Command, asking the rebels to recall moments when Katniss genuinely moved them. The consensus is that her most effective moments are unscripted. Haymitch suggests sending Katniss into a combat zone without a script and filming her natural reaction. Coin agrees to send her to the recently attacked District 8 with a team for security. To account for her nonexistent pregnancy, they will spread the idea that Katniss suffered a miscarriage.

Katniss goes back to her room, where Beetee brings her special armor to wear under her Mockingjay costume. Boggs arrives trailing Finnick, who begs to come along to District 8. Katniss can see that Finnick is not well enough for the mission, so she directs him down to Special Defense, where Beetee has made him a new weapon. Boggs compliments Katniss on how she diffused the situation.

Walking outside, Katniss sees an arsenal of hovercrafts. She confronts Boggs, saying, “You had all this, and you left the rest of the districts defenseless against the Capitol” (72). Boggs responds that it’s not that simple. As the group journeys to District 8, Plutarch briefs them on the current state of the rebellion.