An Imperial shuttle arrives on an Outer Rim planet. Director Orson Krennic and his death trooper squad have come for the scientist Galen Erso and his family. Krennic demands that they return to the Empire so that Galen can continue work on a project that "has stalled."

Galen refuses, and claims his wife has died. But she emerges, blaster in hand. "You will never win," she says. The death troopers kill Lyra, who fires and hits Krennic as she falls. Their daughter Jyn, watching helplessly from the hills, runs to a secret bunker to hide. Later, the rebel Saw Gerrera comes to rescue and raise her.

Some years later on the Ring of Kafrene trading outpost, rebel Cassian Andor meets with a contact. He has intel from a defected Imperial pilot: the Empire has developed a "planet killer" with kyber crystals. A man named "Erso" sent the pilot, now on Jedha seeking Saw Gerrera, with the new information.

On Wobani, an older Jyn wakes in an Imperial prison transport. Suddenly, the vehicle stops, its rear door blown open and the guarding troopers blasted. Jyn takes down the attackers, only to be stopped by an Imperial security droid. "Congratulations," he says. "You are being rescued. Please do not resist."

Jyn is escorted to Yavin 4 where she meets with rebel leader Mon Mothma, Cassian, and others. They want her to connect with Saw Gerrera and draw out her father.

Cassian, K-2SO, and Jyn depart in a U-wing for Jedha. But before takeoff, Cassian is given new secret orders: kill Galen Erso.

The Imperial pilot, Bodhi Rook, is brought before Saw Gerrera. Gerrera is unsure of Rook's intentions and sends him to someone, or something, named Bor Gullet.

The Empire's superweapon, called the Death Star, is nearing completion. Director Krennic meets with Governor Tarkin, who is displeased with the continued delays in construction. He demands an immediate test of the battle station.

The rebels arrive on Jedha and scout the situation. It is under Imperial occupation as the Empire mines kyber crystals from the planet in order to fuel the Death Star.

Bor Gullet draws near Bodhi. Its tentacles slither around his body and head, as Gerrera explains that the creature can decipher the truth.

As Jyn and Cassian move through the streets of Jedha City, they encounter two Guardians of the Whills: Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus. They were protectors of the kyber temple.

Suddenly, an explosion! Saw Gerrera's rebels have attacked an Imperial convoy. Jyn and Cassian take cover, engaging only when they have to.

When the action dies down, Jyn, Cassian, and K-2SO try to leave. They are stopped by stormtroopers, but Chirrut intervenes. Though blind, he defeats an entire squad by himself, armed only with a staff. Baze takes care of the backup.

Saw Gerrera's fighters come for Cassian, Jyn, and the others, taking them prisoner. Jyn reveals her identity, and is soon introduced to Gerrera. He seems unstable, and unsure if Jyn is friend or foe. Jyn claims the Alliance wants Gerrera to relay a message from her father.

Gerrera plays the holo message; in the recording, Galen reveals the existence of the Death Star and a weakness he designed into the battle station. But Jyn will need the weapon's schematics, currently stored at the Imperial citadel on Scarif.

Governor Tarkin demands the Death Star be tested. Complying, Krennic orders the destruction of Jedha City, though the rebel crew manages to escape. Gerrera remains, accepting his fate. "Save the Rebellion. Save the dream," he says as Jyn runs for the ship.

Following the strike, Tarkin informs Krennic that he will be taking over the Death Star's operations. The security breaches at Galen Erso's facility on Eadu, in which someone assisted the defected pilot, are too great to ignore. Krennic storms off to investigate.

The rebels arrive at the Imperial kyber refinery on Eadu, but with opposing goals: Jyn looks to connect with her father, while Cassian still has secret orders to assassinate the scientist.

Galen and his team meet with Krennic on a landing platform. Krennic demands to know which science officer betrayed the Empire, and threatens to execute the engineers until someone steps forward. Finally, Galen admits to the truth.

Cassian does not shoot Galen, but Rebel Alliance fighters strike at the facility. Galen is mortally wounded in the attack, though he shares a brief moment with Jyn, his "Stardust," before passing.

The Emperor's enforcer, Darth Vader, summons Krennic. The Sith tells Krennic that the Death Star will remain a secret; the Senate has been informed that Jedha City was destroyed in a mining disaster. And he demands confirmation that Erso has not compromised the Emperor's superweapon.

Jyn and her crew return to Yavin 4. The Rebellion's leaders debate their next step. Jyn proposes action -- they must capture the Death Star plans on Scarif if they hope to destroy it. "Rebellions are built on hope," she says, echoing something Cassian once told her.

While the council is not in a consensus, Jyn, her friends, and some willing soldiers go against orders and head to Scarif. Absconding in a stolen Imperial craft, Bodhi offers a new callsign for their ship: Rogue One.

Rogue One gains entry past a planetary security gate and lands on the surface.

The plan is to draw security forces out, while Jyn, Cassian, and K-2SO infiltrate the security tower disguised as Imperials.

As Krennic awaits reports on Erso's transmissions, explosions suddenly rip throughout the landscape. He deploys the garrison to snuff out the attackers -- giving Jyn, Cassian, and Kaytoo the opportunity they need.

At Yavin 4, the Alliance intercepts a transmission regarding the attack. Mon Mothma and Admiral Raddus order all ships to join the fight.

The rebel fleet emerges from hyperspace, catching the Empire by surprise. Several fighters speed through the shield gate before it closes.

Cassian contacts Bodhi. He must somehow tell the fleet to destroy the shield gate so that they can transmit the Death Star plans.

K-2SO holds off troopers while Jyn and Cassian, inside the data reserve, find the tape -- codenamed "Stardust." WIth his last act, Kaytoo tells them to broadcast the plans from the tower, then locks the blast doors.

Jyn and Cassian secure the data tapes, but not before Krennic and his flanking death troopers find them. Krennic blasts Cassian, who plummets onto a platform below. Jyn, however, makes it to the surface.

Rogue One's sacrifices are great. Chirrut is lost after activating the tower's master switch; Bodhi secures the connection before a trooper's grenade finds his ship; and Baze falls defiantly in battle.

In the skirmish above, the rebels disable a Star Destroyer. Admiral Raddus orders Hammerhead Corvettes to ram the massive craft into another Star Destroyer, sending both crashing into the shield gate.

On the tower platform, Krennic confronts Jyn. The rebel reveals that she is Jyn Erso, daughter of Galen, and she has relayed the Death Star plans and its designed weakness -- her father's final revenge -- to the Rebellion. At that moment, the Imperial is blasted from behind by Cassian.

Raddus' ship receives the plans. "She did it," the Mon Calamari says. But a massive object arrives from hyperspace: the Death Star.

Tarkin orders the complete decimation of the Scarif base. Krennic watches as death comes for him, and the rebel fleet readies to leave. Until Darth Vader arrives.

"Your father would have been proud of you, Jyn," Cassian says. The heroes embrace in their final moments.

Seeking to recover the plans, Darth Vader boards the rebel ship and strikes without mercy. But one soldier survives, barely escaping with the schematics.

Aboard the Tantive IV, the plans are delivered to Princess Leia. What is the transmission? "Hope," Leia says.