A key influence on the development of this episode was the original Red Dawn movie (1984), which featured a group of teenagers defending their home town from invading forces. As initially discussed, the Iron Squadron are basically a bunch of teens in their pickup truck.

This episode’s new cast of characters and their homeworld are tributes to the staff of Lucasfilm’s online team who spread the word about Star Wars Rebels via Rebels Recon.

Gooti Terez is named after Andi Gutierrez, host of Rebels Recon. Her character design is based on the Theelin species first seen as one of the background singers in the Special Edition release of Return of the Jedi.

Mart Mattin is named after Matt Martin. Now a member of the Lucasfilm Story Group, he was a producer on Rebels Recon and helped create The Star Wars Show.

Jonner Jin is named after John Harper, producer of Rebels Recon and The Star Wars Show.

The planet Mykapo is named after Mickey Capoferri, Executive Producer of Rebels Recon and The Star Wars Show.

The YT-2400 design used by Iron Squadron originally developed as a background ship flying over Mos Eisley in the Special Edition release of Star Wars: A New Hope. It is known to fans as the Outrider, the ship Dash Rendar flies in the Legends story Shadows of the Empire.