Phoenix Squadron travels through hyperspace, en route to deliver a food drop to the Ibaarian citizenry.

But the Empire is waiting -- and orders the rebels to stand down. The A-wings of Phoenix Squadron attack, but the blockade is too powerful.

Kallus orders the food transport destroyed, and the rebels cannot repel the Imperial Light Cruisers' firepower. The ship is lost, and the rations will not reach their destination. Hera calls to abort before they suffer any more losses.

When the rebels regroup, Hera is adamant that they complete this mission. Rex has an idea -- he knows of an expert engineer named Quarrie who has developed a blockade buster starfighter. But he's on the planet Shantipole, which is often a "one-way trip." Kanan volunteers Hera for the journey, as she's the fleet's best pilot.

Arriving at Shantipole, the planet lives up to its reputation. The Phantom loses power upon entering the atmosphere, and all Hera, Sabine, and Zeb can do is fall, steer, and hope for the best.

Hera somehow keeps them afloat, and spots a landing platform in the distance. They barely make it, skidding to a stop, and manage to leap out from the Phantom's rear exit. Once on the ground, the team is greeted by someone.

Quarrie! The short Mon Calamari engineer is gruff, but excited to have guests who may be able to handle his ship. "If you can fly here, you can fly anywhere," he says. "It's also the last place the Empire would look."

Quarrie takes the crew inside his hangar. "There she is!" he says. "I call it the 'Blade Wing.'" A prototype, it's fast, agile, and outfit with high-intensity blasters, ion cannons, and proton torpedoes. But Quarrie says the ship is not simply Hera's for the taking.

While the Empire has cut all rations to Ibaar and waits for the rebels to return, work continues on Shantipole. Quarrie is unconvinced that Hera is the right pilot for his ship. But upon hearing her story -- living through the Clone Wars, leaving home to learn to fly, needing to help others and "be up there" -- his mind is settled. Hera will be his test pilot.

Before takeoff, Sabine asks how many times Quarrie has flown the Blade Wing. "Me? Oh, I don't fly," he says. "But theoretically, it should fly! Better to be down here wishing I was up there, than up there, crashing back down here!" Sabine and Zeb are not pleased.

Hera takes off, and the red ship flies forward...before plummeting.

Then, soaring up! The ship is unbelievably fast, and Hera tests its maneuverability, gyroscopic rotating cockpit, and weapons. "Masterful," Quarrie says in amazement of Hera's abilities.

Hera returns, impressed with the Blade Wing's firepower, but says the targeting system needs work. Sabine has some ideas, and despite Quarrie's resistance, she gets to work.

Kanan contacts Hera, informing her that Ibaar is at its breaking point. They're out of time. But things are more complicated: the Blade Wing's hyperdrive isn't working. There's a solution, however. Quarrie installed a hyperdrive on the Phantom...

The rebels arrive back at Ibaar, but again, the Imperial ships are too strong. It seems as if all may be lost until a familiar voice cuts through the radio chatter. Zeb and Quarrie are in the Phantom, the Blade Wing anchored below with Hera at the controls and Sabine onboard.

Hera heads for the Imperial Light Cruisers, with the Ghost providing cover. "I would hardly call that reinforcements," Kallus says.

The Imperial Light Cruisers continue to fire, and officers notice that the "unidentified ship" is taking the lead and moving into attack position.

Hera gets her shot and opens fire.

Kallus watches, awestruck, as the the blast obliterates one of his ships. "That's impossible," he says.

"We're going in!" Kanan says, as the Ghost leads the convoy to Ibaar.

Kanan and Ezra make it to the drop zone, successfully delivering the food to those who need it.

Back at the rendezvous point, Commander Sato has good news: Senator Organa has found a manufacturer willing to build more B-wings in secret. Hera thanks Quarrie, but the Mon Calamari won't have it. "I just hammered it together, young pilot," he says. "You made it soar." Sato agrees, and citing her skill and leadership, promotes Hera to Phoenix Leader.