Skirmish over Mykapo A skirmish occurred over the planet Mykapo between Phoenix Cell , the Galactic Empire , and Iron Squadron in 2 BBY . After learning that the Empire was about to launch a crackdown on dissidents on Mykapo , the Phoenix Cell and the Spectres organized an evacuation effort . They encountered an Imperial advance patrol but the patrol was wiped out by a local rebel cell called Iron Squadron . While the rebels evacuated the rebel sympathizers on Mykapo , Hera Syndulla , Ezra Bridger , and Sabine Wren tried to convince Mart Mattin and his rebels to leave with them . Iron Squadron was reluctant to leave until they found themselves under attack by an " Arquitens " - class command cruiser led by Admiral Kassius Konstantine . With the help of the Spectres and Commander Jun Sato , Iron Squadron managed to escape into hyperspace and join the rebellion . Prelude . During the Age of the Empire , a rebel cell emerged on the planet Mykapo led by the brother of the Phoenix Cell ' s commander Jun Sato . This rebel cell was called the Iron Squadron and also included his Sato ' s nephew Mart Mattin , the Theelin Gooti Terez , the human Jonner Jin , and the astromech droid R3 - A3 . The rebel cell operated from a YT - 2400 light freighter called " Sato ' s Hammer " . After Mattin ' s father was killed , the Iron Squadron lost contact with Commander Sato and continued the fight against the Galactic Empire on Mykapo . In 2 BBY , the rebellion received intelligence that the Empire was planning to impose martial law on Mykapo . After receiving advance warning of an Imperial crackdown , Phoenix Squadron and the Spectres undertook an effort to evacuate rebel sympathizers . Meanwhile , the Empire dispatched an advance patrol to Mykapo . This patrol consisted of a " Gozanti " - class cruiser and four TIE fighters . The Imperial patrol encountered and engaged in a dogfight with " Sato ' s Hammer " . The mission . Evacuation . Phoenix Squadron arrived above Mykapo to find " Sato ' s Hammer " under attack from Imperial fighters . Phoenix Leader Hera Syndulla sends the " Sphyrna " - class corvette P2 escorted by the A - wings down to Mykapo to evacuate the rebel sympathizers while she sends Phoenix Two and Phoenix Three to escort " Sato ' s Hammer " . Before the rebels can assist Iron Squadron , the local rebels destroy the " Gozanti " cruiser by dropping cargo containers containing explosives . Having eliminated the Imperial patrol , Hera and her Spectres establish contact with Iron Squadron . Kanan Jarrus and Garazeb Orrelios assist with the evacuation in their ship " Phantom II " . The " Ghost " docks with " Sato ' s Hammer " and Hera attempts to convince the Iron Squadron , who have suffered some damage to their hyperdrive , to leave the system with them . However , captain Mart and his followers refused to leave Mykapo and believe that they can take on the Empire by themselves . Unable to reason with Mart , the Spectres return to the " Ghost " . By that stage , Rex has succeeded in completing the evacuation of rebel sympathizers on Mykato . Hera intends to depart with her crew and to leave the Iron Squadron behind . However , Ezra Bridger , with the help of Sabine Wren and Chopper , convince Hera to let them have another go at reasoning with Iron Squadron . Hera agrees but warns them that they must be ready to leave when Imperial reinforcements arrive . Escaping Mykapo . Sabine , Chopper and R3 join managed to repair " Sato ' s Hammer " hyperdrive . However , they are unable to fully repair the ship as long as Mart is diverting power to the laser cannon s and the shields . After some discussion , Ezra and Sabine managed to convince Gooti and Jonner that Iron Squadron is unable to take on the Empire alone . Before they can reason with Mart , Admiral Kassius Konstantine arrives with an " Arquitens " - class command cruiser and two " Gozanti " cruisers to deal with Iron Squadron . Konstantine had been sent by Grand Admiral Thrawn , who wanted to test the Admiral ' s caliber . Faced with the might of the Empire , Mart agreed to evacuate his crew . The two rebel cells went aboard the " Phantom II " . However , Mart changed his mind and decided to stay behind . Once the other rebels have entered the " Phantom II " , he disengaged the airlock and decided to confront Konstantine ' s forces alone . " Sato ' s Hammer " was overwhelmed by the Imperial firepower and TIE fighters and its engines were badly damaged , rendering the ship unable to travel . At Mart ' s urging , Ezra and the other rebels fled into hyperspace . Believing that Iron Squadron ' s rebel allies would return , Admiral Konstantine ordered a TIE bomber to plant a magno - mine and detonator on " Sato ' s Hammer " . He also allowed Mart to send a distress transmission to his rebel comrades in order to trap the rebels . The Spectres and Iron Squadron picked up Mart ' s distress call aboard the " Ghost " . With the approval of Commander Sato and Mart ' s crew , Hera agreed to lead a rescue mission to Mykapo . Ezra realized that Konstantine was trying to trap them but decided they can outsmart the Empire . Rescuing Mart . The " Ghost " returns to Mykapo and Mart tells Hera that the Imperials have attached a mine to his ship . Hera then devises a plan which involves releasing Chopper and R3 through the cargo bay to defuse the mine . The two droids are dispatched through the cargo hold of the " Ghost " . They manage to deactivate the mine and detonator . Under Hera ' s orders , they plant it on one of " Sato ' s Hammer " cargo containers . The two droids then reunite with Mart . Meanwhile , the " Ghost " distracts Konstantine ' s forces by leading his TIEs on a wild pursuit . This succeeds in tricking Konstantine into thinking they have abandoned their rescue mission . After a few runs , the " Ghost " returns to rescue Mart . Their plan is to extract him , Chopper , and R3 from the derelict " Sato ' s Hammer " . However , Commander Sato arrives with the " Liberator " and several A - wings . Sato ' s forces scatter the TIE fighters and attack Konstantine ' s cruiser . Konstantine panics and summons Thrawn for reinforcements . Carrying " Sato ' s Hammer " , Hera flies the " Ghost " towards the Imperial light cruiser . Under Konstantine ' s orders , his subordinate activates the nano - mine . However , Mart releases the rigged cargo over the front of Konstantine ' s cruiser . The resulting explosion damages the ship and sets it ablaze . Thrawn arrives in his Imperial Star Destroyer and exchanges fire with the fleeing rebel ships . After a brief exchange with Commander Sato , he allows the rebels to escape into hyperspace . Thrawn then confronts Admiral Konstantine about the recent debacle on Mykapo . The Admiral attempts to hide his failure by claiming that he had driven rebel forces from Mykapo . However , the Grand Admiral points out that he failed to stop rebel sympathizers from fleeing the planet . Aftermath . The Phoenix rebels and Iron Squadron return to Chopper Base on the planet Atollon . There , Commander Sato embraced his lost nephew Mart Mattin and thanked Hera and her crew for rescuing him . Mart and his Iron Squadron comrades then embraced and decided to join the rebellion .