Now an operative for the Rebellion, Cassian steals a next-generation TIE fighter – but discovers that his contact on a remote jungle moon has gone missing. While Cassian's friends from Ferrix lie low on the agricultural planet Mina-Rau, Mon Mothma plans for her daughter's traditional marriage celebration on Chandrila.
As the preparations for Leida's wedding continue, Mon Mothma must convince Luthen that her friend Tay has not become a liability to their cause. Cassian is held prisoner as his hungry and stranded captors split into competing factions, and Bix, Brasso, and Wilmon attempt to evade detection by an Imperial audit of the farming colony.
Cassian tries to rescue his friends on Mina-Rau, as Bix fights off an attack by an Imperial officer. Dedra and Syril host Syril's mother for an awkward dinner on Coruscant, and Mon Mothma's celebration on Chandrila is soured when Luthen decides that something must be done about Tay Kolma.
One year after the clash on Mina-Rau, Cassian and Bix attempt to stay out of the public eye on Coruscant – while Syril Karn begins his own undercover operation to make contact with the rebels on the planet Ghorman. Mon Mothma struggles to gain support in the Senate, and Wilmon makes contact with Saw Gerrera.
Cassian arrives on Ghorman and makes contact with the fledging young rebellion, who are unaware that their new Imperial source is working a long con for the ISB. Syril visits Coruscant to check in, and Wilmon finds that leaving Saw Gerrera's group might be harder than he believed.
Luthen and Kleya attend Davo Sculdun's party to recover their listening device before it is discovered, where they encounter a high-ranking Imperial officer. Despite Cassian's warning, Luthen sends Vel and Cinta to aid the Ghorman rebels in their plan to rob an armory shipment.
Cassian and Bix join the rebels on the planet Yavin IV, where the group is consolidating its efforts. After Wilmon learns that Dedra is on Ghorman, he recruits Cassian to assassinate her – while Dedra is frustrated by the arrival of a new Imperial commander sent to oversee the subjugation of the Ghor.
As Ghorman erupts into protest, the Empire springs its trap to suppress the people – with Cassian and Wil in the middle of it. Syril's discovery of Dedra's true agenda pushes him over the brink.
As the galaxy reacts to the massacre on Ghorman, Senator Mon Mothma prepares to deliver an anti-Imperial speech that will end her career. With Cassian sent to Coruscant to extract her, Luthen warns the Senator that she can no longer trust the people closest to her.
Luthen learns from his source that the Emperor's grand "energy project" is in fact a weapon of mass destruction, and that Dedra is about to move against him. Kleya recalls her childhood days with Luthen, as she works to save the rebellion – and her friend – before it's too late.
Dedra is confronted by Director Krennic about her unsanctioned investigation. With ISB forces searching for her, Kleya sends a desperate distress signal – drawing Cassian in an unsanctioned attempt to rescue her from Coruscant.
Cassian, Melshi, and K-2SO attempt to extract Kleya out from under an Imperial squadron – though Kleya believes she will not be welcomed among the growing rebellion on Yavin. Dedra and Partagaz must both face the consequences of their failure to keep the Emperor's project a secret..
