Storm Over Ryloth

## Premise

Esther disobeys Tai Lung's orders and loses most of her squadron - prompting Tai Lung to help give his kung fu student a lesson in a respect for authority, and the opportunity for redemption.

## Synopsis

Aboard a Arkeyan Lucrehulk-class Battleship flanked by two Arkeyan Munificent-class frigates over Ryloth, Komodo dragon Captain Mar Tuuk receives orders from Emir Wat Tambor, who emphasizes that the kung fu warriors can't invade Ryloth. Mar Tuuk assures Emir Tambor that their blockade is impenetrable and that the kung fu warriors will get quite a surprise when they arrive. The Resolute, Defender and Redeemer arrive in the system. Esther boards her fighter, mentioning to her new droid R7-A7 that this is her first time leading a squadron. Tai Lung stops by to give her some encouragement, and Esther leads her squadron out of the Resolute. Her squadron checks in, and receiving the order from Admiral Yularen, she charges the Empire and Arkeyan blockade, leading Axe, Slammer, Kickback, Tucker, and Swoop.

After cutting a path to the lead Arkeyan ship, Esther advances with her group. However, four more Munificent-class frigates suddenly jump out of hyperspace and join the blockade. Admiral Yularen and Tai Lung both order Esther back to the ship, but she stubbornly insists on pushing forward. Tucker's V-19 Torrent starfighter is destroyed by the advancing Arkeyan copters, and Esther finally obeys orders and turns back, but the Arkeyan copters begin to sacrifice themselves, ramming themselves into the Resolute. One Copter heads for the cruiser's bridge, and Admiral Yularen is severely injured. After losing Axe as well, Esther and what remains of her squadron make it back to the Resolute. The Redeemer is too damaged to retreat and falls apart, but the Defender and the Resolute manage to jump to hyperspace.

In the hangar, Tai Lung orders a headcount to determine how many pilots were lost, and then reprimands Esther for disobeying orders. Esther learned this trait from Tai Lung himself, but still takes responsibility and is severely dejected that she lost so many men. Tai Lung tries to console her, stating that it was a trap and that it is the reality of war. Captain Rex informs Tai Lung that Master Thundering Rhino is demanding a progress report, and he leaves the hangar.

Meanwhile, Tambor congratulates Tuuk on his success, but warns him not to underestimate the masters. Tuuk then orders a Arkeyan droid to bring him whatever archive data there is on Tai Lung, seeking to learn more about his opponent.

Tai Lung reports his losses to Thundering Rhino and Daniel. Daniel reminds Tai Lung to give his kung fu student time to recover, but that he will need her help to complete the mission. Time is running short, and despite losing almost half his forces, Daniel and Rhino give Tai Lung one planetary rotation to breach the blockade or they'll have to postpone the invasion. Tai Lung stresses that the Twi'lek people can't wait much longer, and the invasion must go on.

Esther sits with an unconscious Admiral Yularen and mournfully apologizes for her failure. Rex then calls her away to Tai Lung, whom she finds in the hangar bay, repairing her starfighter with the help of Blue Ship. Tai Lung tells her they need to proceed with their attack on the blockade. Esther, still shaken from her earlier failure, questions her readiness. Tai Lung receives a call from the Defender and orders Esther back to her quarters to cool off. Meanwhile, Tuuk, certain Tai Lung will counterattack, orders his Arkeyan droids back to their battle stations.

Alarms sound aboard the Resolute, and Esther exits her quarters to find clone troopers running to stations. A clone reports to Esther that the Defender is being evacuated for an unknown reason. When she arrives in the hangar, everything from the Defender is being loaded into the Resolute. Tai Lung credits Esther with the inspiration to his latest plan: he proposes that he will pilot the Defender alone into the lead battleship, taking out the enemy commander and thus leaving only easily-outmaneuvered crocodiles in command. Esther thinks it's a reckless plan, but Tai Lung leaves it to Esther to command the remaining forces while he remains defenseless in Blue Ship after destroying the Defender. Tai Lung leaves on a shuttle, and "Commander Esther" is now in charge of the Resolute.

Esther reports to the bridge of the Resolute. Tai Lung is ready to get underway. Rex and the Resolute's clone navigation officer await orders. Tambor updates Captain Tuuk with information from master Bear that the kung fu forces are too thin to mount an effective counterattack and that any attempt to do so would be suicide, but Tuuk still believes Tai Lung is coming, and basks in the opportunity to achieve fame for the defeat of such a great warrior. Esther brings Rex and the navigation officer up to speed, and they are very skeptical of their chances of success. The navigation officer accidentally blurts out that they usually have Tai Lung to lead them; while he doesn't mean Esther any offense, she still realizes how much bigger her responsibility is.

The Defender emerges from hyperspace, and Tai Lung hails Captain Tuuk, offering to surrender himself and his vessel in exchange for safe passage of food and medical supplies to the people of Ryloth. Esther details the battle plan after Tai Lung's collision with the battleship. She intends to tilt the Resolute in a maneuver away from the frigates, using it as a screen to launch fighters that would then defeat the remaining ships. The navigation officer is doubtful, and suggests taking time to come up with a better plan. Esther asserts that these are her orders, and that Tai Lung is counting on her, but then corrects herself and says that he is counting on them. Admiral Yularen returns to the bridge and supports Esther, giving her much-needed confidence.

A Arkeyan droid reports to Captain Tuuk that scans of the Defender reveal it to be heavily damaged, with all power diverted to the forward shields, but there is only one life-form aboard. Tuuk realizes Tai Lung's deception, and the Resolute emerges from hyperspace. Tai Lung heads the Defender straight for the Empire flagship. Esther heads off to command the fighter squadron, leaving Rex and Admiral Yularen in charge of the Resolute.

Tai Lung leaves the Defender  in Blue Ship which gets both in safety. Captain Tuuk orders all cannons to fire at the Defender, but it is already too close, and he escapes from the ship. The Defender pierces the center sphere of the battleship while saying "for the kung fu panda wall". The Resolute moves into position, and Esther leads a squadron of Y-wing starfighters toward the blockade. The crocodiles, leaderless and confused, manage to order a basic attack on the Resolute, but the kung fu Y-wings and V-19 Torrents manage to rip apart the remaining ships in the blockade. Following this, three Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships carrying Daniel, Thundering Rhino, and their troops emerge from hyperspace. Daniel contacts Esther, wryly commenting on the state of Tai Lung's invasion fleet, and Rex dispatches a shuttle to pick up Tai Lung and Blue Ship, while Blue Ship is sad over Defender's victim.