Star Wars Rebels : The Siege of Lothal Star Wars Rebels : The Siege of Lothal is a one - hour long , two - part television movie that serves as the second season premiere of the animated television series " Star Wars Rebels " . The television movie event was written by co - executive producer Henry Gilroy and directed by Bosco Ng and Brad Rau . The movie premiered on April 18 , 2015 at Celebration Anaheim , and it made its television debut on June 20 , 2015 on Disney XD . The premiere continues the events of the first season , as the rebel crew of the " Ghost " adjusts to their new missions within the larger rebellion . After receiving a call for help from Minister Maketh Tua , who wants the rebels to help her defect from the Galactic Empire in exchange for vital Imperial secrets , the rebels return to Lothal only to find that they have entered an Imperial trap . With Lothal under Imperial siege and the Empire on their trail , the rebels must find a way to flee Lothal and return to the rebellion . Along the way , they have their first encounter with Darth Vader , the dreaded Dark Lord of the Sith . Official description . " The Inquisitor is dead . The Ghost crew has connected with other rebel cells . And a new ally named Ahsoka Tano has emerged . Despite these successes and developments , the fight against the Empire takes a deadly turn , as the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader comes to Lothal . " Plot summary . Rebel operations . Not long after the events of " Fire Across the Galaxy , " in which the rebels of the planet Lothal realized they were part of a larger rebellion against the Galactic Empire , the crew of the " Ghost " has become part of Phoenix Squadron , a rebel cell comprised of multiple corvettes and a squadron of A - wings under the command of Commander Jun Sato . Together , they undertake a mission to steal shield generators from the Empire to help defend the fleet . The " Ghost " , under the command of Captain Hera Syndulla , flies with Phoenix Squadron to carry out the mission . Also involved is the fleet of rebel blockade runners . The fleet attacks a group of Imperial freighter s and knocks supplies loose from one of the vessels . The " Ghost " secures the cargo and the fleet jumps into hyperspace upon the arrival of two " Arquitens " - class light cruisers . Plan to draw the Rebels back . On Lothal , Minister Maketh Tua and Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau discuss the steps that Tua is taking so the planetary government can locate the rebels . Though Tua has increased security and instituted a planetary curfew , she correctly believes that the rebels have already left Lothal and that such draconian measures will not be effective . Kallus counters that Tarkin wants results , given that his own personal Star Destroyer had been destroyed by the Rebels . The conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Darth Vader , a Dark Lord of the Sith and the Emperor ' s top enforcer , who tells her that if the rebels have left Lothal then they need to be drawn back so the Empire can find them . Tua expresses reservations , and the Dark Lord tells her that she can relay her concerns to Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin , Governor of the Outer Rim Territories , who has commanded her to visit him and account for her failures . Tua is terrified , likely from the memory of Tarkin ' s execution of Cumberlayne Aresko and Taskmaster Grint , who had also failed on various occasions . The crew of the " Ghost " returns to the command ship , " Phoenix Home " , where Commander Sato commends them for their work in securing fuel for the fleet in the raid ; despite intelligence reports to the contrary , however , there were no shield generators aboard the Imperial freighter . The " Ghost " crew ' s astromech droid , C1 - 10P — nicknamed Chopper — arrives on in the command center carrying an urgent message . Kanan Jarrus , the crew ' s leader , purposefully ignores fleet protocol and orders Chopper to play the message , but Syndulla interjects and orders Chopper to mask their signal by only using one - way visual communication . The message is a holographic transmission from Jho , the Ithorian proprietor of a rebel safe haven on Lothal , who presents Minister Tua to the rebels . Tua believes her life is in danger and asks the rebels for help in defecting from the Empire , and she offers vital Imperial information in exchange for their assistance — including the names of rebel sympathizers on Lothal and nearby star system s , as well as intelligence regarding the Empire ' s true mission on Lothal , a mission ordered by the Emperor himself . There is some disagreement amongst the crew as to whether they should undertake the mission , but Ezra Bridger , Jarrus ' Padawan , insists that they help her . Jarrus , Syndulla , and Commander Ahsoka Tano all agree , and Sato approves the mission . Jarrus leaves the command center and is followed by Syndulla , who lectures him about the breach of protocol in the command center . He is bothered by the fact that their once - ragtag crew is now involved in a military operation and wants the crew to leave the rebellion , allowing the crew to return to their previous mission of robbing from the Empire and giving to those in need . Syndulla reminds him that they are fighting a bigger fight , but Jarrus , as a survivor of the Clone Wars and the ensuing Jedi Purge , does not want to fight another war after what the last one did to the galaxy . Unbeknownst to either of them , Bridger has overheard this exchange . Meanwhile , as the rebels prepare for their operation , Tua leaves her office in the Imperial complex in Capital City . Agent Kallus , suspecting her treason , orders a probe droid to follow her and record her movements . Return to Lothal . The rebels board a Star Commuter 2000 shuttle that is docked with the rebel fleet , choosing to leave the " Ghost " behind under the assumption that the Empire can track it after it was involved in a battle with the Empire over the planet Mustafar . While en route to Lothal , they discuss their plan to rendezvous with Minister Tua in Capital City , where she is scheduled to leave on a shuttle to meet with Governor Tarkin . The rebels soon arrive on Lothal , and the Star Commuter shuttle is given clearance to pass the heavy presence of Star Destroyers in orbit . Bridger notes the increased number of Star Destroyers once they land , having never seen so many Imperial warships in the skies above Capital City in his many years of living on the planet . Garazeb Orrelios and Chopper are ordered to stay behind with the Star Commuter in case the rebels need to make a quick exit . The crew makes their way towards the rendezvous point , where a number of Imperial stormtrooper s are guarding the shuttle . In order to distract the stormtroopers , Jarrus assaults one of the soldiers and steals their armor , allowing him to blend in as one of the Imperials and walk right up to the landing bay . Jarrus waits in position while Syndulla , Bridger , and Sabine Wren head to the rooftops , where they can attack the Imperials from above . Tua soon arrives along with Kallus , who says that Darth Vader ordered him to escort her to the shuttle in the interest of her safety . The rebels attack the Imperial troops and Tua runs for the shuttle , followed close behind by the rebels . Once she is aboard , however , the shuttle explodes , sending the rebels flying backward . Kallus , whose probe droid is recording the entire incident due to Empire knowing the shuttle was going to explode , accuses the rebels of killing Tua . High above the landing pad , Darth Vader observes the scene ; he leaves just as the rebels begin their escape from their failed rescue mission . Fleeing from Imperial forces , the rebels board the Star Commuter 2000 after Chopper and Orrelios arrive . As the shuttle flies away , it is shot down by an All Terrain Defense Pod and crashes in the city street . In the Imperial complex , Vader receives a transmission from Agent Kallus , who reports what happened . Vader orders him to lay siege to Lothal , preventing any travel offworld in order to prevent the rebels from escaping . The Empire also sends out a report via HoloNet News about Minister Tua ' s death , publicly implicating the rebels as assassins . The crew watches the report in one of their safe houses , the former home of Ezra Bridger and his missing parents . The Empire soon finds them , prompting the crew to escape just before the stormtroopers set off a thermal detonator and destroy the house . Under the assumption that the forces in the Imperial complex will be stretched thin due to deployments searching for the rebels , the crew hatches a plan to sneak in and steal a shuttle , as to the lockdown prevents them from finding a civilian ship . Jarrus retains his stormtrooper disguise and Bridger impersonates an Imperial cadet , allowing them to enter the facility with crates containing the rest of the crew . Along the way , Ezra attempts to perform a mind trick on an officer , but fails , forcing Kanan to do it instead . Once the rebels are safely inside the complex , they make their way to the complex ' s starport and find a shuttle to steal . They also find a number of military - grade shield generators , much like the ones that they were searching for during the attack on the Imperial freighters , and steal them . However , before they can escape , Jarrus and Bridger both feel a sudden chill ; realizing what it means , they turn to see Darth Vader entering the hangar , flanked by stormtroopers . Duel with the Dark Lord . Igniting his lightsaber , Vader advances on Jarrus and Bridger as the stormtroopers move to flank the other rebels . Wren and Orrelios get in a firefight with the stormtroopers to cover Hera and Chopper as they load the shield generators onto the shuttle and prepare to take off . Meanwhile , Jarrus and Bridger engage Vader in a lightsaber duel , but they are easily overpowered . When Jarrus is knocked out of the fight , Bridger attempts to fight Vader alone , but Vader uses the Force to pin him against a wall and bring Bridger ' s own lightsaber toward the Padawan ' s throat . The Dark Lord taunts him , saying that Jarrus deceived Bridger into believing he could become a Jedi . Before Vader can kill Bridger , Jarrus returns to the fight and engages Vader , only to be driven back and slashed on the shoulder by the Dark Lord ' s counterattack . Wren and Orrelios then throw thermal detonators onto some nearby AT - DP walkers , scattering the stormtroopers and distracting Vader ; seizing their chance , Bridger and Jarrus use the Force to knock the Dark Lord of the Sith off - balance as the walkers crash down on him . The rebels believe that Vader is dead , but he uses the Force to lift the burning walkers into the air , with not even a scratch on him . A shocked Bridger rhetorically asks " " If that doesn ' t kill him , what will ? ! " " ; Jarrus simply replies " " Not us . Run ! " " As Bridger and Jarrus retreat to the shuttle , Wren opens fire on Vader to try and delay him ; however , Vader deflects the blaster shots back at her , scorching her chest - plate and helmet . Mere steps ahead of Vader , Bridger and Jarrus leap aboard the shuttle as Chopper flies it away from the Imperial complex . A stormtrooper offers to mobilize the Empire ' s fighters to pursue the shuttle , but Vader refuses , explaining that the rebels will not leave Lothal yet . His plan is still in motion . Having barely escaped with their lives , the rebels catch their breath aboard the shuttle - luckily , Wren and Jarrus ' s armor saved them from permanent injury . Bridger wonders if Vader is an Inquisitor , like the one they faced in the past , but Jarrus believes that he is actually a Sith Lord , the ancient enemies of the Jedi Order . Bridger asks how they could fight Vader in the future , but Jarrus incredulously tells him that they were lucky to even survive the encounter with their dangerous new foe . Knowing that Vader will have a blockade in orbit waiting for them , the rebels decide they have to smuggle themselves off Lothal , and Syndulla suggests someone who could help them : Lando Calrissian , much to Bridger and Jarrus ' s dismay . Getting off of Lothal . While the rebels prepare to contact the smuggler , Kallus meets with Vader and informs the Dark Lord that the rebels have not yet left Lothal . In order to draw the rebels out , Vader orders Kallus to destroy Tarkintown , a refugee settlement that the rebels provided assistance to in the past . Syndulla and Jarrus contact Calrissian , who is offworld when they call , and explain their situation . Calrissian thinks helping them will be a risk , one that could endanger the mining operation he set up on Lothal , but is willing to help them for a price . They agree to give him three of their shield generators , and Calrissian tells them to go to his farm where his droid , W1 - LE , will assist them . W1 - LE greets them upon their arrival , at which point Bridger notices the smoke from Tarkintown . He grabs a speeder and heads in that direction , where he finds the charred remains of the settlement . Jarrus arrives moments later and says the citizens have likely been taken into Imperial custody . All Bridger can sense is evil , and his master tells him that the city was destroyed in order to spread fear on Lothal . He feels that things are getting worse , much like they did during the Clone Wars ; and back then , there were ten thousand Jedi protecting the galaxy . Now , Jarrus and Bridger are two of the only Jedi known to still be alive , facing off against an entire Empire . Jarrus is skeptical that they can make a difference , but Bridger believes that they can fight the Empire , declaring that he isn ' t afraid of them - in turn , Jarrus mutters " " That ' s what I ' m afraid of " . " as his Padawan walks off . The two Jedi return to Calrissian ' s farm , where Wren explains that she and W1 - LE have created sensor buoys that will replicate the signal of the shuttle and scatter Imperial forces when they try to track them . The rebels , who resolve not to return to Lothal due to the impact their rebellion has had on the planet , leave the farm and make their way towards orbit , casting the decoys into the atmosphere as they head for space . The Star Destroyer " Relentless " , under the command of Admiral Kassius Konstantine , tracks the signals , and the Imperial crew falls for the diversion . The rebels successfully make it past the blockade and into hyperspace , with a course set for the rebel fleet . Back at the Imperial Center , Konstantine contacts Vader and Kallus to report his failure , but Vader simply orders that his ship be prepared for launch . Noting Konstantine ' s confusion , Kallus explains that the shuttle used by the rebels contains a tracking device , which Vader himself plans to use to track the rebels to his true objective : the rebel fleet . It is revealed that Vader allowed the crew to escape from Lothal specifically for this purpose ; even the gap in the garrison defenses was intentional . Attack on the fleet . En route to the fleet , Jarrus wonders if they should return to the rebellion at all , still unsure as to whether he wants to be part of their fight against the Empire . The crew debates the issue amongst themselves , in order to resolve the question of where to go . Wren suggests they take the " Ghost " and lay low , while Orrelios likes fighting with Phoenix Squadron and knows that the other rebels are counting on them to return . Bridger casts the deciding vote , and the crew continues on their way towards the fleet . Upon their arrival on " Phoenix Home " , Chopper discovers that the transmitter has been activated . The crew rushes to the command center to inform Sato and Tano about the transmitter just as a lone starfighter , Vader ' s TIE Advanced x1 , enters the area to engage the fleet . Phoenix Squadron is deployed to fight the Dark Lord , but Vader — the best starpilot in the galaxy — easily shoots many of the Phoenix forces down . As Vader attacks " Phoenix Home " , the " Ghost " crew joins the fight aboard their ship . Jarrus and Tano , who went with the crew aboard the " Ghost " , sense the Force is strong with the pilot of the TIE fighter and attempt to learn more about him through the Force . As they do so , Bridger begins to sense the same darkness that he felt on Lothal , realizing that the TIE pilot is the Sith Lord they fought . Tano , who feels something about Vader through the Force that terrifies her , screams and falls unconscious . She and Vader have sensed one another , and Vader realizes that Tano — who was his Padawan when he was still known as the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker — is still alive . As the battle nears its end , Star Destroyers enter into the fray , with the lead ship commanded by Admiral Konstantine . Vader orders them to prevent the rebel fleet from leaving , as he wants this group alive . At the " Ghost " crew ' s urging , Sato and his crew abandon the critically - damaged " Phoenix Home " , evacuating to the rest of the fleet . The " Ghost " keeps Vader occupied during the evacuation before flying towards the Star Destroyers , Vader still on its tail - the crew questions this , but Syndulla has a plan for escaping . While the blockade runners jump into hyperspace , Syndulla pilots the " Ghost " between two Star Destroyers , which activate their tractor beam s in order to trap the ship . The ship jumps into hyperspace just in time , leaving Vader ' s TIE fighter to be captured by the tractor beams in its place . Upon hearing of this mistake , Admiral Konstantine tells the tractor beam operator that " " It wasn ' t your fault . . . but Lord Vader won ' t know that , " " implying that he intends to blame the operator for his failure to capture the rebels . Aftermath . The " Ghost " meets up with the rest of the fleet and begins to repair the damage from the battle . Jarrus and Bridger speak to Tano , who asks them about their confrontation with Vader in Capital City . Jarrus tells her that he hasn ' t sensed a presence as evil as his for many years — since the Clone Wars , as Tano interjects . Bridger asks her if she knows who the Sith Lord is , and Tano , somewhat unsettled about the topic , denies any knowledge of his identity . She does know , however , that he and the rest of the Empire will be coming for the rebels again in an effort to destroy them . Whether or not they choose to fight Vader and the Empire , the " Ghost " crew tells Tano that they will stand together . Aboard the bridge of a Star Destroyer , Vader sends a holographic transmission to the Emperor . Vader tells his master that he has broken the rebel fleet , but the Emperor senses that there is more to Vader ' s victory than his disciple has let on . Vader says that he has discovered that the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker is still alive and that she is in league with the rebellion . The Emperor is pleased by this news and believes that Tano could lead them to other lost Jedi — including , perhaps , Obi - Wan Kenobi . The Emperor urges Vader to remain patient in finding his old Jedi Master - for now , he orders him to dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt the rebels down . Behind the scenes . As with " " , this episode was originally split into two parts when it was aired and made available on DVD , but was released as one uninterrupted episode when it became available for purchase on digital video storefronts , such as iTunes . The digital video version of this episode removes the brief birds - eye view shot of the Imperial airfield that starts this episode ' s second part and changes the timing of the music that plays during Ezra and Kanan ' s duel with Darth Vader .