The Occupation " The Occupation " is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the animated television series " Star Wars Rebels " . The episode premiered on Disney XD on October 30 , 2017 . It is also the sixty - fourth episode of the series overall . Official description . " Ezra and the " Ghost " crew return to Lothal , but find that the Imperial occupation has taken a much darker turn . " Plot summary . Ryder ' s message . The " Ghost " drops out of hyperspace above Yavin , and Hera Syndulla tells Sabine Wren to transmit the clearance codes to Yavin 4 . Ezra Bridger , napping , is jolted awake by a Force vision and falls out of his chair , shouting " No ! " When the others ask what ' s wrong , he tells them that he saw Jho and heard Ryder Azadi on Lothal , and he thinks they ' re in trouble . Kanan Jarrus points out that Ezra has been having a lot of these moments lately , due to his anxiety about Lothal , and that it probably doesn ' t mean anything . Ezra retorts that they ' ve been rarer lately , and not happening in the middle of briefings . He also states that his people were promised support . Hera reminds Ezra that Thrawn ambushed their fleet , and he sulks in his chair , while Sabine feels sad for him . When the " Ghost " lands at the Great Temple , the ship is met by Erskin Semaj , who informs Ezra that Mon Mothma wants to see him and the others . In the main briefing room , Mothma plays a message they received from Ryder two days before , in which the former governor states that his spies in the capital report that the Empire is testing a new kind of TIE Defender . The message then cuts out before Ryder can describe the fighter ' s reported abilities . Mothma , having witnessed the dangers of the TIE Defender firsthand , states that this is information that needs to be followed up on , and tells Ezra she knows how important Lothal is to him . She asks for volunteers , and Ezra asks when he leaves . Hera reminds him that " all " of the Spectres are going . Mothma reluctantly assents , noting that they work better as a team . She warns them that since the Empire has Lothal in a complete lockdown , there is no guarantee that the Alliance will be able to extract them . Ezra responds that he understands , but that he is going to help his people , which means he ' s there to stay . Returning home . Later , as the " Ghost " rendezvouses with the " Broken Horn " in deep space , Alexsandr Kallus , entering the cockpit , notes that Cikatro Vizago is a criminal who can ' t be trusted . Sabine , exiting the cockpit , tells Kallus that they used to say the same thing about him . Ezra adds that Vizago has legitimate business on Lothal . Kallus asks Ezra who told him that , and he responds , " Hondo " , which prompts Hera to sigh in exasperation . Ezra reassures her that Vizago will get them through the blockade , as he needs the money . He meets Vizago at the airlock , who promptly asks if Ezra " has them " , and Ezra invites the crime lord to see for himself . Ezra shows him to the " Ghost " cargo hold , where crates of puffer pig s await . Vizago , pleased with his payment , notes that Lando Calrissian made a fortune with his , and that the Mining Guild will pay handsomely for them . As the crates are loaded onto the " Broken Horn " , Rex asks Garazeb Orrelios why he ' s not helping . Zeb responds that he ' s not allowed , as he scares the animals , because they don ' t like his face . Rex responds that at least Zeb ' s is unique , and the Lasat asks if that ' s clone humor as Rex climbs up the ladder . In the cockpit , Hera tells Rex that he ' s in command of the " Ghost " while she ' s gone . As she leaves , Kallus , mistakenly assuming that Hera was talking to him , sits down in the pilot ' s seat and reminisces about how much trouble the " Ghost " caused him back when he was with the Empire . Rex corrects Kallus as to who Hera was addressing , and Kallus retorts that he ' s commanded Star Destroyer s . The old clone responds that Kallus just answered his own question , and the ex - Imperial moves to the copilot ' s seat , letting Rex sit in the pilot ' s seat . The " Broken Horn " detatches from the " Ghost " . The Spectres are on the bridge of the " Broken Horn " in civilian disguises when Chopper rolls in . The astromech droid comments that he finds Zeb and Ezra ' s hats ridiculous , and Sabine threateningly asks him if she needs to paint him again . The starship drops out of hyperspace above Lothal , and the Spectres are shocked at the planet ' s heavily polluted appearance . Ezra is particularly affected , noting that it looks like the planet is dying . Vizago tells him that Lothal isn ' t exactly the planet he remembers , and to brace himself . The starship is contacted by an " Arquitens " - class cruiser , and Vizago transmits his clearance codes . One of the cruiser ' s pilots tells the officer in charge that there is something wrong with the thermal scan , and they are detecting multiple unregistered lifeforms aboard . The officer notes that they ' ve found a smuggler , and orders an Imperial Security Bureau patrol to be alerted . He gives the " Broken Horn " clearance to land . The " Broken Horn " flies through a layer of pollution in Lothal ' s atmosphere , and Ezra is shocked to see that the plains have been burned . Two TIE fighters swoop in to escort the ship , and Hera asks how common this is . Vizago claims that it sometimes happens , but is swiftly forced to admit that this has never happened to him before . Upon landing at Jhothal , a gravity lock is placed on the ship , and a search crew approaches . Hera guesses that they were scanned on the way in , and Ezra points out that if the Empire doesn ' t find them , it won ' t have anything , and asks Vizago to stall them . The Spectres hurry out of the cockpit . The boarding party , comprised of stormtrooper s and an officer , enters the cockpit to find Vizago , who claims that he doesn ' t know anything . Hiding in the hold amid the crates , which have been opened to release the pigs , Sabine wonders if this is a good idea , and Ezra responds that he ' s confident it will work . The Spectres herd the puffer pigs out of the hold , and Zeb , positioned in the corridor , is ordered to scare them . He quips that he has to put on his " useful face " , and frowns at the animals , frightening them into inflating . The Imperials , having arrested Vizago , are surprised by the sudden barrage of inflated pigs , and as the Spectres sneak past , Ezra tells the crime lord to come along . Vizago , in binders , makes to leave , but turns back to retrieve one last , uninflated pig , and becomes trapped when the animal swells up . Lothal occupied . The Spectres sneak into the occupied town , which is full of Imperials . Realizing that Vizago is not there , Ezra guesses that he must have gone back for the pig . Kanan points out that the crime lord is good at weaseling his way out of trouble . Ezra suggests that they go to Old Jho ' s Pit Stop to get in touch with Ryder , and Zeb ominously responds , " If he ' s still there . " Hera decides that they will split up : Ezra , Sabine and Chopper will go to the cantina , and her , Kanan and Zeb will look for transportation . Spotting a wanted poster of himself , Ezra wonders why the Empire is still using an old picture of him , as he doesn ' t look like that anymore , and Sabine tells him that ' s a good thing . They pass by a large viewscreen , spouting Imperial propaganda , which then displays Sabine ' s wanted poster . Across the street , they see two civilians being stopped by a patrol for being out after curfew . As Ezra , Sabine and Chopper approach the cantina ' s entrance , Ezra suggests that Jho is fine , as the people wouldn ' t stand for it . Sabine , hearing the Imperial anthem coming from inside , asks him if he ' s sure about this . Ezra responds in the affirmative , reminiscing about how the Pit Stop was one place where it was clear that the Empire was unwelcome . The two rebels , stopping in the doorway , are greeted by Imperial officers and stormtroopers , the Imperial HoloNews playing , and an unfamiliar bartender , and Sabine quips that things have clearly changed . They turn to leave , only to see Chopper , outside , being questioned by a stormtrooper as to the location of two citizens he witnessed nearby . Sabine asks what they will do now , and Ezra decides that they ' ll get drinks . Sabine quietly asks Ezra if he ' s trying to get them killed , and he points out that if they ' d walked in and walked out , it would have been suspicious , and it ' s unlikely that anyone will recognize them , as they reach the bar . Spotting a hologram of an Imperial pilot , Sabine points it out to Ezra , noting that he might . Ezra recognizes the pilot in the picture as Baron Valen Rudor , who the Spectres had encountered a few times , years before . The bartender turns out to " be " Rudor , who is flattered to be recognized . Ezra and Sabine pretend to be impressed to meet Rudor , and Sabine asks him what he ' s doing running a cantina . He explains that the Empire gave him charge of the bar recently , as a reward . Rudor notes that they don ' t get many civilians in the bar anymore and , vaguely recognizing Ezra from some of those long - ago previous encounters , notes that he looks familiar . Ezra responds , truthfully , that he used to come in when the cantina was run by Old Jho . A red - haired patron sitting in a booth by the wall lowers his drink and frowns when he hears the name . Rudor states that they must not have heard , and explains that there was an Imperial raid on a suspected rebel cell a few days before , and that Jho was caught by the ISB trying to help the rebels escape . Ezra assumes that Jho was captured , and Rudor smugly states that he was captured and executed . Meanwhile , Hera and Kanan walk in the street , and she notes that it ' s like a ghost town because of the fear . Kanan responds that everyone has a reason to be afraid , and then hears a stormtrooper patrol . He grabs Hera by the wrist and pulls her into a narrow alleyway , and they watch the troopers walk past . Kanan notes that it ' s been a long time since they ' ve been alone together , and Hera responds that it was usually in situations like this . He states that he wishes he could see her , and Hera reaches up and removes his visor , telling him that he could always see her . They lean in for a kiss , only to be interrupted by Hera ' s comlink beeping . Zeb reports that he ' s found the rebels ' speeders , and Hera asks how many . He responds that he thinks he ' s found all of them , but they have been confiscated by the Empire . Zeb notes that it ' s " kinda convenient " . Hera asks about stormtroopers , and Zeb responds that he said convenient , not easy . In the alley , Hera tells Kanan that they have to go . As he starts to follow her , Kanan sighs . In the Pit Stop , Rudor notes that it was a shame about Old Jho , since he was apparently loved by the community , but traitors must be dealt with . Sabine , noticing Ezra ' s difficulty in hiding his anger , tells Rudor they have to go and gets Ezra away from the bar , thanking the baron for their drinks . She warns him that he has to stay in control . Rudor , suspicious , orders the stormtroopers to stop Ezra and Sabine . At this point , the red - haired young man intervenes , recognizing Ezra as " Oleg " and telling him he ' s been looking all over for him . He suggests that Ezra forgot to pay for his drinks . Ezra and Sabine pretend to argue over credits , both assuming that the other had them , and the redhead offers to pay for them , telling Rudor to keep the change . Rudor notes that that ' s very generous , and says that he didn ' t catch the redhead ' s name . The redhead responds that that ' s okay , and tells Ezra that everyone ' s waiting to see him . Outside the cantina , Ezra asks their rescuer who he is , and the young man responds that it has been a while . Ezra quickly recognizes him as Jai Kell , and remarks that it ' s been a long time since their days at the Imperial Academy . Jai agrees , and explains that he ' s been coming to the Pit Stop on Ryder ' s orders for the past several days , watching for the Spectres . He pulls out a transmitter to call for a pickup , and Ezra tells Jai that the Spectres have it covered . There is an explosion , and Hera , Kanan and Zeb pull up in a speeder , and she tells the others to get in . However , the rebels are approached by two tanks , and they are forced to flee , leaving the speeder behind as it is destroyed by Imperial fire . Hera says that they need an exit strategy , and Jai leads them back inside the cantina . In the entrance , they are forced to avoid death trooper DT - L21 and his stormtroopers exiting , and Ezra claims that there are rebels outside who just blew up a speeder . The death trooper shoves Ezra aside as he runs past . Sewer escape . The rebels head inside the empty cantina , and Zeb smashes the door control to delay the Imperials . Jai leads the Spectres to a sewer entrance , and explains that Jho kept up a network of tunnels beneath the town , which Ryder told him about once . Hera orders Chopper to scan the infrastructure to find them an exit , and the droid descends into the hole . The rebels enter the sewer , but Zeb is reluctant , asking if there ' s another way . A blast is heard at the door , and Hera quips that Zeb could always ask the Imperials . Zeb enters the sewer last , grumbling about the smell . Once the Imperials re - enter the bar , DT - L21 asks Rudor if he knew that the sewer entrance was unsealed , and the baron claims that he did not . The death trooper commander orders troops , and several probe droid s , into the sewers to find the rebels . Jai doesn ' t know the way , and the rebels are soon lost . He does remember that the tunnels lead to a large junction outside of town . Ezra remarks , " So much for our disguises , " as the Spectres retrieve their weapons from the crates Chopper has been carrying on a rig . The probe droids catch up , and the rebels fight them . Kanan , noting that one droid is transmitting their position , decides that they have to split up . He , Hera , Chopper and Jai head one way , and Ezra , Sabine and Zeb flee the other way . Eventually , Kanan , Hera , Chopper and Jai come to a ladder , leading up to an entrance . Kanan wonders if this is it , and Jai offers to climb up and check . The hatch opens , and the rebels swiftly hide from sight as several stormtroopers shine lights down into the sewer . Kanan is forced to step into the light in the process of destroying an approaching probe droid , and the rebels flee as the stormtroopers , reporting the sight of rebels , enter the tunnel . Chopper sees a starbird painted on the tunnel wall , pointing to the hatch , and tries to alert the others , but quickly flees when he sees stormtroopers descending . Running through the tunnels , Sabine , Ezra and Zeb are pursued by a probe droid . As Zeb destroys that one , the third probe appears , and Ezra takes care of it . Zeb asks if Ezra knows the way , speculating that Ezra grew up in a sewer . Ezra points out that he ' s from the city , and is unfamiliar with the country sewers . Zeb asks what the difference is , and Ezra retorts that everything is different . He states that Saw Gerrera was right , and Lothal is lost . Sabine tells Ezra to forget what Saw said , reminding him that he said as long as the rebels are together , they haven ' t lost . She then notices something , which she calls Ezra and Zeb ' s attention to : a painting of her starbird symbol . Ezra points out that Ryder knows that the bird is Sabine ' s symbol , and deduces that he left it as a trail for the rebels to follow . The three head in the direction that the bird is pointing . DT - L21 is informed that the rebels have destroyed all of the probe droids , and he orders all troops sent to the rebels ' last known coordinates and a squad sent to the junction outside of town . He follows a squad of stormtroopers into the tunnel . Eventually , the trail leads them to a larger tunnel , and they can ' t find any more starbirds . Running to the other end , they are forced to retreat when stormtroopers appear . They attempt to head back the way they came , only for Hera , Kanan , Chopper and Jai to emerge , pursued by more stormtroopers . Hera reveals that they were following the symbols as well , and Zeb notes that they seem to have followed them into a trap . As the rebels are surrounded , Chopper , in the center of the large tunnel , looks up to see another hatch , with the starbird painted on it , and draws the others ' attention to it . Hera states that someone needs to get up there , and Ezra leaps up onto the ladder . Climbing , he slashes the control panel with his lightsaber , lowering the ladder , and drops back to the ground . Sabine leads the way up , followed by Zeb , Hera , Jai , Kanan and Ezra . Chopper is carried by Zeb . Kanan and Ezra sever the ladder to prevent the stormtroopers from pursuing . Sabine bangs on the hatch , but it won ' t open , and tells Hera when she asks that Ezra destroyed the control panel . Shortly , the hatch does open , and Ryder Azadi appears and greets them . The rebels climb out , shutting the hatch behind them . They evacuate into Ryder ' s U - wing , copiloted by Marida Sumar . Ezra thanks Ryder for his help , and he says that it ' s the least he could do . Ryder asks where the rest of their forces are , so they can deal with the new TIE Defender , and Ezra apologetically tells him that they were all that was sent . Zeb pessimistically notes that since Lothal is in a complete lockdown , he doesn ' t see how they are going to do this . However , Ezra finds the bright side in all of this , noting that rebellions always start small , with only a few people . Ryder wonders if they ' ll feel that way when they see the Empire ' s new fighter , and the U - wing departs .