Now linked with a larger rebel cell, our heroes lead a mission to steal cargo from an Imperial convoy. Backed by the A-wings of Phoenix Squadron, the Ghost successfully makes its way to the target.

While Imperial backup arrives, Zeb successfully pulls in the containers. Phoenix Squadron and the Ghost hold off the Imperials, and they join the rest of the fleet in the jump to hyperspace. Mission accomplished.

Back on Lothal, Minister Tua defends herself to Agent Kallus. She has no more information on the rebels, though Governor Tarkin demands results. "I honestly don't know what else to do," Tua says. "Perhaps that is the problem," says a deep, threatening voice.

It is the voice of Darth Vader, Sith Lord. He has been sent to Lothal to deal with the rebels himself. He says that they will squeeze the planet until "someone reveals the whereabouts of these traitors." He then tells Tua that she will visit Tarkin to account for her failure.

Tua knows her life is in danger, and desperately contacts the rebels for help. Together with Ahsoka Tano and Commander Sato on Phoenix Home, they are wary of her story, but agree to help at Ezra's urging. In exchange for secret Imperial information, they will get her off Lothal.

After the meeting, Kanan express his overall unease at joining this larger rebel operation. While he's thankful they saved him from the Empire, he has seen war and is not eager to enter into another one.

To avoid detection, the Ghost team takes a shuttle back to Lothal where they'll rendezvous with Minister Tua. The plan: to secure her and steal her Imperial shuttle, then escape the planet.

Entering Lothal airspace, however, they find that the Imperial presence has grown since their victory at Mustafar. Also, Ezra feels an icy cold through the Force.

Zeb and Chopper stay with the shuttle in case they need a quick exit, while the rest of the team heads for Tua. Kanan steals a stormtrooper's armor to get them easier access to the Imperial docking bay.

Watching from the rooftops, Ezra realizes that Tua has company: Agent Kallus. "Lord Vader asked me to make sure you reach your shuttle safely," Kallus tells her. And reach it she does.

As the rebels appear, Kallus orders Tua to board. After she enters, the ship suddenly explodes, however. Tua is dead. "You did this!" Kallus bellows. The rebels engage in a firefight with Kallus and his forces, and are finally rescued by Zeb and Chopper in the shuttle.

The ship takes off, and Kallus -- with a spy droid -- watches. Despite their escape, the rebels don't make it far. A walker shoots them down, and the shuttle crashes in the Lothal city streets. The team quickly evacuates and runs.

Meanwhile, Kallus reports back to Vader. The Sith Lord tells Kallus to use the spy droid's footage to frame the rebels via a HoloNet broadcast, and make it clear that the rebel assassins hide in the populace's midst. Vader orders the spaceport locked down, and commands that any ship attempting to leave be destroyed.

The Ghost crew heads to Ezra's old home for sanctuary and sees the Imperial broadcast. They know they can't stay on the planet for long -- and have to leave for good. Soon thereafter, stormtroopers arrive at the door. The rebels escape to the rooftops, just before the Imperials destroy the home.

Kanan has an idea. Imperials are looking for them everywhere...except at the Imperial complex. Maybe they can steal a shuttle there? It's a stretch, but they don't have many other options. Plus, Kanan's already dressed for the part.

Ezra, in his cadet uniform, joins Kanan in gaining entrance to the Imperial complex, with the rest of the team hiding in containers. While Ezra's Jedi Mind Trick fails to influence a stormtrooper, Kanan's doesn't. "I wish it worked on you," he says to the Padawan.

They make it to the hangar, spot a shuttle, and manage to snag some military-grade shield generators along the way.

But just before boarding the shuttle, Kanan stops. He feels something. The cold.

It is Vader. The Sith Lord was waiting, a squad of troopers with him.

He slowly approaches the Jedi, towering over them. As they fight, he's impossibly strong, dueling with ease and tossing the Jedi and Padawan aside as if they were weightless.

The rest of the team heads for the shuttle, shield generators in tow.

The duel continues. Vader stops Kanan's strike and throws the Jedi across the hangar, dazing him.

The Sith Lord uses the opportunity to finish Ezra. He Force lifts the Padawan and pins him. "Your Master has deceived you into believing that you can become a Jedi," he says. Vader slowly brings Ezra's own lightsaber blade toward his throat.

Kanan recovers in time to stop the Sith, however. But he's no match for Vader, who tags the Jedi's shoulder. Before Vader can destroy Kanan and Ezra, however, there's an explosion. Sabine has toppled a walker, and the Jedi Force push Vader beneath it as it falls.

Vader rises.

As Kanan and Ezra head for shuttle, Sabine attempts to shoot the mysterious attacker. He calmly deflects her blasts back, and Sabine is hit in her armor and helmet. On the shuttle, the rebels recover, and Kanan explains to Ezra the attacker was something worse than another Inquisitor: a Sith Lord, the ancient enemy of the Jedi. "We were lucky to survive," he says.

Kallus reports back to Vader. No ship has left the planet. Vader orders Tarkintown, the refugee camp, burned. He will use the rebels' compassion against them.

The Ghost team needs to get off Lothal and can think of only one man with the means to help: Lando Calrissian. The smuggler agrees to assist...in exchange for three shield generators.

They go to Calrissian's operation where his droid, W1-1E, sets them up with everything they need -- masking transponders. Before they leave, however, Ezra sees smoke billowing in the distance.

He jumps on a speeder and Kanan follows. It's Tarkintown, in flames. Ezra senses no one. They've all been taken into Imperial custody. Kanan knows it's a trap to draw them out.

Finally, the rebels depart. They set the transponders, which will beam the shuttle's signal at various sectors, confusing the Empire. It works, and they get past the Imperial blockade. Despite some misgivings, they agree to rejoin the rebellion.

Kallus and Vader receive a report that the rebels escaped. Vader asks to have his ship prepared.

As they board the Phoenix Home, Chopper tells the team that a transmitter activated on their shuttle when they docked. They've been tracked! They detect one ship entering the sector...

It's Vader in his TIE Advanced. Commander Sato orders Phoenix Squadron to intercept.

But they are no match. Vader eliminates the A-wings one by one until only two remain, and takes out Phoenix Home.

Hera and the team take the Ghost to help, Ahsoka Tano with them. "The Force is strong with him," Tano says of the Imperial pilot. Joining her powers with Kanan, she reaches out, connecting with Vader. "The apprentice lives," Vader says.

Ahsoka is overcome with pain and fear through the Force, and passes out.

Phoenix Home continues to crumble, and Commander Sato orders his crew to abandon ship. They evacuate in escape pods, and the fleet's survivors make the jump to lightspeed. Meanwhile, Hera leads Vader between two oncoming Star Destroyers.

She hits lightspeed at the last possible moment, leaving Vader caught in a tractor beam.

Back on the Ghost, Ahsoka has recovered, but is troubled. She says she doesn't know who the Sith Lord was, but warns that he will be coming -- and more Imperials with him.

On the Star Destroyer's bridge, Vader contacts the Emperor. He tells his Master that he has broken the rebels...and believes the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker is in league with them. "It was her," he says. The Emperor advises Vader to be patient, and commands he dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt them down.