“One Year Later”

The Starfighter Heist

In 4 BBY, a human woman named Niya, dressed in a white and orange jumpsuit, approaches a parked TIE Avenger starfighter in a white hangar. She walks past a black trapezoid droid and climbs into the starfighter’s cockpit to inspect the flight instruments. After exiting the TIE Avenger, she slots her datapad into the black droid. The hangar is part of Sienar Test Facility 73, situated in a dark and snowy setting at night, with bright city lights visible in the distance.

Inside an empty cafeteria, a disguised Cassian Jeron Andor waits by an open window, posing as an Imperial test pilot. Niya informs him that the starfighter is ready for a test flight in the morning and that the password is “Kafrene.” When Andor asks for the key, Niya explains that they must wait for her supervisor to leave since he usually doesn’t stay late. Andor expresses his concerns about their safety, and Niya suggests a cover story of pretending to flirt if they are discovered. Though she’s nervous about the operation, Andor reassures her. Niya admits that she’s enjoying her time at the test facility but is also afraid of change. Andor tells her that she is brave.

Niya chats with another female colleague, claiming that Andor is a new recruit who couldn’t sleep and needed some company. After the colleague leaves, Niya tells Andor that she mentioned he was cute. Niya confesses that she is afraid of dying tonight and questions whether their heist will be worth it. Andor confidently reassures her that she made the right decision by aiding the Rebellion and encourages her to be strong. Niya requests a twelve-minute head start for her escape, and Andor promises to meet her along the way.

Andor then heads to the TIE Avenger’s bay to prepare the ship for departure. When the black trapezoid droid investigates the noise he makes, Andor shoots it with his blaster. He unplugs the ship and closes the rear hatch. Once inside, he starts powering up the ship’s instruments and systems. However, he struggles to take off due to his unfamiliarity with the TIE Avenger’s controls. Just as Andor fights to gain control, stormtroopers enter the hangar to investigate. They open fire on the TIE Avenger, forcing Andor to return fire.

A range trooper by the hangar door readies a rocket launcher to fire at Andor. While maneuvering control, Andor accidentally fires one of the TIE Avenger’s laser cannons, taking out the soldier and blasting a hole through the hangar door. He uses the starfighter’s laser cannon to create an opening and skids down a frozen slope. The starfighter comes to a stop at the end of an embankment, and Andor powers it up again, just before it gets hit by two incoming missiles. He flies the starfighter through a narrow canyon, pursued by two TIE Advanced v1 starfighters.

After a brief chase, Andor manages to lose them by firing his cannons at the rocks above an approaching tunnel, causing a collapse. As his starfighter flies through the tunnel, the two pursuing TIEs are crushed. Panting with relief, Andor soars into the skies.

Bix’s Nightmare

On an agricultural farm world called Mina-Rau, Bix Caleen experiences a terrifying nightmare in which she is stalked by her former Imperial interrogator, Doctor Gorst. When she wakes up, Brasso, Talia, Wilmon Paak, and B2EMO are there to tend to and comfort her. Brasso reassures her that they will talk about it in the morning, and B2EMO powers down. The survivors from Ferrix are staying in Talia’s compact, stationary home, where they have been living for the past year following the Rix Road riot.

The Mothma Estate and Wedding Preparations

On the core world of Chandrila, preparations for the arranged marriage between Leida Mothma and Stekan Sculdun are underway. Leida leads her peer group into the bridal suite to unveil her traditional Chandrilan wedding gown. Meanwhile, high-status guests— including relatives, dignitaries, and political figures—begin to arrive at the estate.

Senator Mon Mothma and her husband, Perrin Fertha, greet the early arrivals, who include Perrin’s uncle, Sordo, and his wife, Squidna. Mon has a brief conversation with her ally, Erskin Semaj, who informs her that Governor Klavin’s new vessel is occupying two reserved docking spaces on the estate’s private platform. Perrin joins them shortly after, and Mon casually passes the issue off to him, calling it a “parking problem” and suggesting that he handle it with Erskin. She departs, masking her frustration, which resurfaces when she notices Luthen Rael’s arrival.

Avoiding direct contact, Mon continues along the deck, exchanging formalities with passing guests. On a large staircase, she pauses to discreetly ask her cousin and rebel associate, Vel Sartha, if she has noticed Luthen’s presence. Vel looks distraught and glances toward the lower level.

As Mon moves toward the courtyard, she encounters Senator Beeva and, moments later, Tay Kolma, a childhood confidant from Chandrila. A year earlier, Kolma had advised her to work with Davo Sculdun to obscure the disappearance of 400,000 credits. Kolma requests a private word, but when Mon asks if it is urgent, he hesitates and ultimately declines.

Mon reaches Luthen and greets him with formal courtesy before questioning his presence there. Luthen offers no details, stating only that it is a secret. Davo Sculdun then joins them and jokingly suggests that he hopes Luthen hasn’t spoiled their surprise. Mon, growing uneasy, remarks on Luthen’s poor ability to keep secrets. Davo implies that Mon has other matters requiring her attention, and she politely excuses herself, feeling slightly disturbed by their alliance.

Vel approaches Mon again and inquires about Luthen. Mon explains that he is accompanying Sculdun for undisclosed reasons and departs, leaving Vel to observe as Kleya Marki approaches. Kleya quietly informs Luthen that the Seinar team has confirmed Andor’s escape with the TIE Avenger; however, the only signal received was a pulse code. Luthen expresses concern over the lack of further communication, but Kleya reminds him that transmissions are impossible to hide on Chandrila. She reiterates that she warned him before landing. Exposed and without a secure signal, they are operating blind. Luthen instructs her to keep listening and walks away, leaving Kleya visibly frustrated.

Imperial’s Arrival on Mina-Rau

On the world of Mina-Rau, Bix and Wilmon are working on a moisture vaporator in the middle of a remote crop field during the day. They rotate out components and calibrate the system, and as they finish their adjustments, Bix spots someone approaching and asks Wilmon if he’s thirsty. The visitor is Beela, a young woman who clearly has an interest in Wilmon. Bix teasingly points out Beela’s determination given the long walk from the silos. Embarrassed, Wilmon pleads with Bix to behave, mentioning that Beela’s mother disapproves of him. When Bix presses further, Wilmon admits it’s because they are “toolies”—unregistered laborers without visas or land shares.

Bix shrugs it off, reminding him that there are others like Talia and Brasso. Frustrated, Wilmon tells her to drop the subject. Just then, the vaporator activates, releasing water from the top. Beela arrives, winded but cheerful, and offers Wilmon and Bix a container of water. Bix grins, joking that Wilmon was just saying how thirsty he was. Wilmon shoots her a disapproving look, while Beela chuckles—until her smile fades.

Above the fields, an Imperial Gozanti-class scan cruiser descends into view. Wilmon continues making small talk with Beela while Bix watches the ship closely, her expression darkening, uneasy at its presence.

Andor and the rebel band

Elsewhere, Andor flies his stolen TIE Avenger and lands in a forest clearing. He powers down the ship and looks out through the window at a camp. He climbs out of the starfighter through the rear hatch and calls to Porko. He looks around the forest for Porko. The voice of Gerdis tells him to stop right there because he has 15 blasters pointed at him. Another man named Bardi argues with Gerdis about revealing the actual number. When Andor says that he is not an Imperial pilot, Gerdis says he is not going to shoot him, while Bardi orders him to toss the blaster and get on the ground. Andor complies, raises his hands, and kneels to the ground. Several men in green uniforms emerge from the clearing and surround him.

Andor is bound by the rebels, who believe that he is an Imperial pilot. Andor tells his captors that he had stolen the Imperial ship for the rebellion, prompting one of the rebels to ask which rebellion. Andor explains that he was supposed to rendezvous with a friend. One of the captors says that his friend was not friendly and made the mistake of shooting at them. A woman named Rika accuses Andor of lying and presents an Imperial helmet. She says that Andor was a test pilot, prompting the rebel band to level their blasters at him.

Bardi and Rika examine the TIE Avenger, whose systems they are unfamiliar with. Andor is present in the cockpit under armed guard. He warns Rika against touching an instrument. When Bardi asks what it is, he says that he is not sure. Andor appears to be evasive, prompting Bardi to threaten him. Gerdis says they need to focus while Rika adds that they need to find a way to get the TIE Avenger to fly. Gerdis says that they don’t have enough room for everyone. When a rebel asks if there is any food inside, the others say no.

Bardi says that Rika can fly the TIE Avenger. Rika says that the starship controls are confusing. One of the rebels suggests getting Andor to teach her how to fly the ship. Andor watches the campsite meeting from a distance under the armed guard of Crab. Crab warns him not to think about escaping. When Andor suggests that the guard escape with him, he spits on the ground. Bardi, Gerdis, and the others continue arguing. When Andor tells the guard that the others don’t trust him, the guard warns that he doesn’t need an excuse to strike him. Andor plays with his emotions, reminding him that they have been two days without food, prompting the guard to demand at blasterpoint how he knows that. He answers that this group wasn’t here three days prior when he left.

As Bardi and another rebel named Flex argue, Andor approaches with his guard and deduces that the group are the Maya Pei Brigade. From the quarrelsome rebels, Andor learns that Maya Pei has perished and that her group lost six ships and 40 fighters and that Bardi’s brother allegedly abandoned them on this planet, though Bardi insists he went back for survivors. When Rika asks how he knows Maya, Andor explains that she was a customer and that his group has been supplying the Brigade. Andor emphasizes that they are part of the same Rebellion but Bardi reminds him that his friend was hostile. Andor explains that they were on a mission to steal an Imperial test ship. When Flex asks who he is working for, Andor refuses to tell him. The guard grabs Andor, prompting the other rebels to try and restrain him.

Andor chats with three of his rebel captors, asking them why they haven’t gone elsewhere for food and water and one answers that there are beasts in the forests. Meanwhile in the TIE Avenger cockpit, Rika wants to let Andor fly the ship but Bardi does not trust him. Andor asks his guards who is charge. Just then, Bardi touches the laser cannon controls, which causes the TIE Avenger to blast some trees, unleashing fallen branches and debris; Andors comments that it’s harder than it looks.

A secret meeting

At the snowy Maltheen Divide, Director Orson Krennic presides over a top-secret Imperial meeting, emphasizing that it is “off the books.” He warns the participants to maintain utter secrecy including memory wiping all service and transport droids. He adds if their colleagues and superiors are not in this room, that means they are not cleared for the project. Krennic adds that his superiors Colonel Wullf Yularen and Governor Wilhuff Tarkin will be personally notified about the meeting by Emperor Palpatine at the time of his choosing. The conference attendees include Dedra Meero and Major Lio Partagaz.

Krennic describes the group in this room as the closest of “tight circles” and warns that any security violations will be brought to the Emperor’s personal attention. Krennic lowers the blinds and begins playing a promotional tourism video about the Great Valleys of Ghorman, Ghorman garments and the Ghorman Valley Horn. The video documentary then talks about the Ghorlectipods (or Ghorman spiders), explaining that 40 billion Ghorlectipods are housed in webberies across the planet, which are bound into 60 billion bolts of Ghorman twill. The documentary explains that Ghorman twirl is exhibited in the planetary capital for galactic consumers. Krennic ends the video by saying that Ghorman is of “great interest” to the Empire.

Krennic explains that realizing the Emperor’s dream of energy independence has been frustrating and fraught with delays and setbacks. Krennic says that he met with the Emperor yesterday and that the Emperor emphasized that the Energy Initiative remains central to his agenda, claiming that access to stable, unlimited power will transform the galactic economy and solidify Imperial authority. Krennic explains that the Empire is interested in a mineral beneath Ghorman’s surface.

A doctor explains that Ghorman is home to a mineral called kalkite. Krennic explains that the Empire needs Ghorman kalkite to coat the reactor lenses within three years. Should they fail to find kalkite alternatives, he says that they need to extend control over Ghorman. He tells the attendees that they have been selected to come up with a plan to subjugate Ghorman. When Major Partagaz asks if the kalkite extraction will be an invasive process, an Imperial officer explains that it would present stark challenges to the local population.

When another Imperial asks him to clarify, the Imperial officer says that removing the kalkite would render the planet unstable. He says that gouge mining would destabilize the planet’s core. Krennic concedes there is a risk of the planet collapsing. An Imperial officer with white hair says that the planet is home to nine cities and 800,000 Ghormans. Krennic says he prefers relocating the population but that they need to consider alternatives, all of which would require preparation. Partagaz warns that Ghorman is not obscure or without political clout, adding that the Ghormans would not go quietly. Krennic says that this is exactly why they are here.

Krennic tells the attendees that the suppression of Ghorman is not a easy matter, adding that this is not their first meeting on the subject. He introduces Dee Shambo and Nisus Osar from the Ministry of Enlightenment, explaining that they would be their partners. Shambo and Osar propose framing the Ghormans as being intransigent and difficult by not allowing Imperial inspections. Osar suggests that the Ghormans put themselves first and explains that the Ministry concocted the story of the Ghormans killing an Imperial inspector out of misplaced pride. Shambo suggests turning galactic public opinion against the Ghormans. Osar says they love the spiders but suggests that the Ghorman’s concocted aggressive streak can be traced to the creatures. Krennic approves of Shambo and Osar’s plan.

Later, as they are taking refreshments, one of the Imperial officers suggests using an epidemic or staging a natural disaster to make the Ghormans leave voluntarily. Still, a white uniformed officer says that an epidemic can spiral out of control. Major Partagaz asks the officer in charge of the drilling operation how long it will take to set up the mining operation. The officer estimates that it will take a few weeks to start drilling, but says that administrative and security issues will be troubling. Partagaz replies that the Empire has no large presence on Ghorman. The officer says that Krennic has prepared for that by building a new armory in Palmo. Partagaz expresses surprise at the fast pace of the Imperial plans.

Krennic speaks with Meero, noticing that she has been quiet. Meero says that she prefers to listen, adding that she learns quickly. Krennic remarks that some people have not recovered from the Ferrix incident. He then asks if she has not been bought over by the anti-Ghorman whispering campaign. Meero replies that she is still forming an opinion. Krennic doesn’t buy that and observes that she has already formed a plan and asks for her assessment. Meero responds that propaganda will only get them so far and adds that they need an insurgency to justify Imperial actions on Ghorman. When Krennic asks her to clarify, she says that the Empire “will need Ghorman rebels they can depend on to do the wrong thing.” Meero walks away, leaving Krennic to reflect on her suggestion.

Where is Andor?

On Mina-Rau, B2EMO asks Brasso about Andor, prompting him to reassure him that he will be back soon. Brasso steps into the red cabin and meets up with Talia, Paak and Caleen. They discuss the upcoming Imperial Supply Census, which Brasso describes as an audit. Brasso says that the Empire wants to know what they have gotten. He says that the Empire is right now focusing on the Council of 500. When Caleen expresses concern that the Imperials will check visas, Talia reassures them that she will not let anything happen to her. Paak checks the radio transmitter for Andor while Talia hugs Brasso.

Wedding intrigue

On Chandrila, Rael asks Marki if she has heard from Andor or Porko. Marki says that she has spent the day listening to frequencies. Rael says that they know that Andor escaped the Sienar facility and that Porko was waiting. Marki heads to fetch a drink and tells Rael that the monitor is switched on. At the wedding party, Davo Sculdun meets with Perrin Fertha. The two watch Leida and a peermaid socializing with an elderly couple. Fertha remarks that Leida will not be easy and asks Sculdun if his son will be tough enough for her. Davo replies that his son will either learn or be led. The two men sip wine with Fertha wishing Davo’s son all the best.

Elsewhere at the wedding, Rael chats with an officer who has been transferred to Steergard recently. While sipping wine, Marki chats with Vel Sartha, who remarks that the wedding feast has two more days to go. When Sartha asks what Marki is doing on Chandrila, she says that Sculdun is a client and brought a gift for the betrothed. The two pose as two single women surveying the prospects.

Mothma speaks with Kolma, who admits that his business has gone sour. He hopes to stay for the weekend but says he might have to leave. When Mothma asks if Marni is joining him, Kolma reveals that they have been living apart and expresses surprise that Mothma is unaware. Kolma explains that it is a recent development and moves to the topic of her foundation. When Mothma asks if there is a problem, Kolma says it will not be a problem. Shortly later, Runai Sculdun arrives and tells Mothma that Leida and Stekan have had their first fight, and that Leida has run off. Mothma finds her daughter crying alone in an empty room, sitting on the floor. Leida says that Stekan is a child who keeps rebuffing her. Mothma apologizes to her daughter and comforts her.

Pandemonium

Meanwhile, Bardi, Gerdis, Rika, and the other rebels argue about Andor and the leadership of the rebel band following Maya Pei’s death. Crab loses his temper and points his blaster at Bardi. When Rika taunts him, Crab shoots her, throwing the camp into pandemonium. Andor tries to escape but is pinned down by two rebels who pull him to safety.