No Place Safe

Kaz decides to fully join the Resistance and fight the First Order...but they may have found him first.

Krakavora flew over the beaches of the planet Aeos Prime alongside Ace Squadron racers. The Colossus hovered over the ocean while Bo Keevil and Torra Doza flew circles around the structure in their Yellow Ace and Blue Ace racers.

Meanwhile, Captain Imanuel Doza and Jarek Yeager took the Aeosian Queen and two of her guards on a tour of the Colossus marketplace. He hoped that it would be bustling again after they had found a new home. Doza thanked the Queen. Bolza Grool introduced himself to the Aeosian Queen and invited her to taste a gorg. The Queen fingered the gorg and said that it was very kind of him. The Ugnaught vendor watched in the background.

Grevel said that he had never met a Queen before. The Queen remarked that the gorgs grew to be quite large. Grool chuckled while Doza led the way. Yeager noticed Kazuda Xiono gazing on the deck into the sea. Yeager noticed Xiono is down and asked why he wasn't racing with the other Aces, despite it being what he had always wanted. Kaz responded saying that he had been thinking about it but said that he couldn't stay here and sit out the fight. Kaz believed that it was time for him to leave the Colossus. Xiono had a sad look on his face.

Later, Kaz contacted Norath Kev via holoprojector and told him that he would be leaving shortly to join him. Kev is pleased and tells him to get there within two rotations, if possible. He said that they will then rendezvous with the others. Kaz said he would leave right away. Kev responded by saying that he would send the coordinates via an encrypted channel. Kev couldn't wait to see his friend again and said that the Resistance needed all the good pilots they could get.

Following the conversation, Captain Doza had a chat with Kaz, realizing that he would soon be leaving them. Kaz said that he understood why Doza doesn't want to fight. Kaz added that his father would have preferred that he doesn't get involved in the war, but that was just not who he was. Doza responded that he respected that and told Kaz that he was a good person and wished him the best of luck. Kaz thanked Doza and said that he wished that Aeos Prime would be the safe haven that they had been looking for.

Meanwhile, in space, the Thunderer dispatched several spider probe droids. Commander Pyre told the bridge officer that he wanted an hourly report on whatever they found and that they could not overlook the smallest detail if they were going to find the Colossus.

In the Thunderers hangar, Jace Rucklin playfully reprimanded Tamara Ryvora ("DT-533") for not wearing her helmet. Rucklin asked what she was doing down there. Ryvora said she was going crazy with all the waiting and asked when the First Order would let them fly again. Rucklin said that he had heard that the probe droids were on the hunt and hoped they would turn up with something soon.

Rucklin was pleased that the First Order had secured most of the major systems and believed that they would have control over the entire galaxy. He assured her that he and Ryvora would make their mark. Feeling uneasy, Tam replied as long as it got her back out there.

Back on the Colossus, Kaz packed his back while CB-23 and Bucket watched. Neeku Vozo was distraught and on his knees. Bucket muttered in Binary and rolled away. Kaz told Neeku that he had to do this and pleaded with his friend to understand. Neeku replied that Kaz was his best friend and that he would forever miss him. To comfort Neeku, Kaz gave him his lucky trophy, which he regarded as his most prized possession. A tearful Neeku vowed to treasure the damaged but symbolic trinket forever. Kaz reassured Neeku that he would be his "bestest" friend forever. The two then embraced.

Synara, who had realized that Kaz is leaving, and Torra also came to wish Kaz farewell. Torra was upset that Kaz was leaving and told him that he was an Ace and Aces stick together. Kaz understood and said that he would miss flying with her. Yeager told everyone to get out because he needed to speak to Kaz alone. Before leaving, Torra punched Kaz in the chest but said that she would miss him too. Neeku hugged Kaz before leaving the room.

When Yeager asked Kaz if he knew where he was going, Kaz told him that he would be heading to a rendezvous point near the planet Batuu and added that he had the coordinates. A sad Yeager told Kaz that he could take the Fireball, much to his delight. Bucket was shocked, while Kaz was grateful. Bucket grumbled but Yeager told the droids to go and blow a servomotor.

Yeager said that the Fireball was old but that if he was good to her, she would be good to him. Kaz thanked Yeager and the two shook hands and embraced. Yeager told Kaz to keep her safe and to watch himself out there. CB-23 beeped and Kaz promised to keep the ship in good hands. Yeager told Kaz that he had changed a lot since he had arrived on the Colossus. He told him that he was not the same kid that had come here, and he was proud of him.

CB-23 approached Kaz, and the two climbed aboard the Fireball. Yeager watched in the hangar before walking away. As he left, Kaz sadly watched the Colossus. As they flew into space, he reassured CB that they were making the right decision. They flew past Aeos Prime and its ring but were detected by a probe droid, which trailed them.

Before CB-23 could calculate the jump into hyperspace, she spotted the First Order probe droid scanning them. The probe droid fired several homing missiles, and the Fireball was forced to take evasive action. However, Kaz came up with the idea of leading the homing missiles back to the probe droid. He charged at the probe droid, which engaged in a gun battle. The homing missiles hit the probe droid, destroying it, but the Fireball also took damage and began to short-circuit. CB also lost power.

Despite the destruction of the probe droid, its head managed to send a transmission back to the Thunderer. The bridge officer informed Commander Pyre and Agent Tierny that one of their orbital probes transmitted an image of Kazuda Xiono and the Fireball.

Tierny recognized Kaz while Pyre deduced that the Colossus is nearby. Tierny remarks that Aeos Prime was home to a group of people who once collaborated with the Rebel Alliance. Pyre said they should have wiped them out and vowed to correct their mistake. He said that they were moving in with full force. Pyre ordered the bridge crew to plot a course for the Aeos system and to order the pilots to their fighters. The Thunderer jumped into hyperspace.

Meanwhile, Kaz was left floating in the Aeos system. He recalled Yeager's words that the pilot's best mechanic was himself. Kaz rerouted the emergency power cells to jumpstart his astromech droid. CB-23 came back to life. He told the droid that the comlink was fried and that they had to restore power to the thrusters. CB-23 used her grappling line to leap out of her socket onto the wing.

As the Star Destroyer traveled through hyperspace, Ryvora was repairing her TIE fighter when klaxons began sounding. Rucklin told her that they needed to scramble because the Colossus had been located, and they had orders to take it down. Ryvora was shocked but donned her helmet.

CB-23 managed to repair the Fireballs systems, earning Kaz's praise. Kaz decided not to rendezvous with Norath since he feared that the probe droid may have warned the First Order about their location. Kaz decided that they needed to warn the others and fired the Fireballs engines.

Back at Yeager's repair station, Yeager, Neeku and Bucket saw the Fireball descending with a smoke trail. Kaz managed to land the disabled ship. Neeku was pleased that his best friend had returned and hugged him. Neeku asked if he forgot his plasma wrench, to which Kaz apologized, saying that he had no time but had to warn Captain Doza. Kaz headed to a holoprojector and told Doza about his encounter with the First Order probe droid while Neeku continued hugging him. Doza soon found that their long range scanners had picked up a First Order Star Destroyer.

The Star Destroyer exited hyperspace and dispatched several TIE fighters and TIE/se Bombers into Aeos Prime. Doza lamented that they had spent months trying to find the perfect place for their new home. Xiono apologized and says that they needed to leave. Doza admitted that Kaz was right and ordered the Aces to scramble their fighters. He also ordered 4D-M1N to ready their laser cannons. Yeager allowed Kaz to take his ship but told him to take Bucket, as well.

Meanwhile, Captain Doza told the Aeosian Queen that the First Order had found them and that they had to leave. He told her that her people needed to find cover. The Queen declined because Doza had given them medicine and healers for her people and had reminded them that there was still light to be found in the "dark times." She said they would help them escape. Captain Doza thanked the Queen.

In the air, Lieutenant Galek ordered Rucklin and his TIEs to prevent the Colossus from escaping and to disable it by any means necessary. Rucklin asked Tam if she was with him. After a delay, Tam confirmed she was ready as the starfighters descended onto the Colossus.

In response, Hype led the Aces into combat. He explained that their mission was to hold the TIEs back so that the Colossus could jump. Kaz flew Yeager's racer with Bucket, reassuring the droid that he had gotten the hang of things. Griff Halloran and Bo Keevil warned that there were bombers incoming. The Aces shot down several TIEs.

Tam managed to avoid being shot down and spotted Yeager's racer. Kaz warned that the bombers were coming. Hype sent Torra and Griff to flank the fighters. The bomber pilot reported that they were ready to deploy their load. 4D warned Captain Doza and Yeager that the deflector shield was weakening from enemy fire.

Before the First Order bomber could return for a second pass, it was attacked by several Aeosian warriors riding a winged krakavora beast. The aliens jumped from their steeds and pierced the bomber with their vibroblades, causing it to crash into the sea. The warriors also took out a TIE fighter with their javelins. Hype laughed that he loved these new guys. The Aces and their Aeosian allies fought a fierce dogfight against the TIEs.

With the Aeosians holding off the TIEs, Yeager told Doza that it was time to launch. Doza issued orders to launch. Meanwhile, the Thunderer entered Aeos Prime's atmosphere. The bridge officer informed Commander Pyre and Agent Tierny that their fighters were facing heavy losses. Pyre ordered their gunners to shoot the Colossuss engines and take out their hyperdrive. The Thunderer began to bombard the departing Colossus.

Hype told Kaz that they wouldn't get far with the Thunderer attacking. Kaz proposed attacking the Thunderer, but Hype thought Xiono's idea was crazy. Torra supported Kaz and said that they should keep the Thunderer distracted while the Colossus prepared to jump.

Rucklin informed Tamara that the Aces were taking the Thunderer head-on. Tam replied that Yeager would not do something that reckless. She realized that Kaz was piloting the ship. Agent Tierny informed Pyre that the Aces were trying to attack them head-on. Pyre dismissed the Aces as pathetic and ordered them to intensify forward deflectors and open fire.

The Thunderer dispatched more TIEs, which led Torra to say that they had gotten the First Order's attention. She asked what they should do. Kaz told his fellow pilots to give the Colossus more time. Hype seconded his plan.

Meanwhile, one of the Aeosian Queen's guards told his Queen that the Colossus had ascended beyond their reach. The Queen said that they had done all they could for them and issued orders for them to retreat below the surface before the First Order returned.

As the Colossus ascended into Aeos Prime's upper atmosphere, 4D reported that shields were at fifteen percent. The Aces continued fighting TIEs around the Star Destroyer, shooting down several. Tam pursued Kaz in Yeager's racer and locked onto it. Bucket warned Kaz they were in danger, but Kaz was determined to reach the bridge of the Thunderer. Kaz fired a missile, which forced Tam to abandon her attack and take out the missile before it could take out the command bridge.

Bucket grumbled and Kaz said that they almost had their target. He remarked that they were dealing with a skilled TIE pilot. Ryvora's TIE was damaged but she managed to land her fighter back in the hangar. Commander Pyre, who had been watching Ryvora, told Lieutenant Galek that she was an impressive pilot and asked who she was. Galek responded that is DT-533.

As the Colossus ascended into space, the Thunderer continued its pursuit. 4D-M1N told Doza and Yeager that shields were at five percent. Doza ordered the Aces to return to their mother ship. After the fighters returned, Captain Doza took the Colossus into hyperspace.

Aboard the Star Destroyer, Agent Tierny told Commander Pyre that General Hux would not be pleased with their failure. Pyre responded that General Hux is not who he was concerned about before walking away, leaving Tierny on the bridge.

Back in the Aces' hangar, Neeku and Yeager approached Kaz. Yeager said he hoped that Kaz enjoyed flying his ship and said that it wouldn't happen again. Bucket beeped in Binary while Neeku said he was sorry that Kaz did not get to meet with his Resistance friends again. Kaz says it was fine and said that he had realized that he was needed most at the Colossus.

Kaz told Yeager that he thought that he encountered Tam out there and that she was the one who locked onto him during his attack on the Thunderers bridge. Kaz said that if he had not shot that missile, she would have taken him out. Yeager said that he knew that Kaz cared about her and that they all did. However, Tam had turned her back on all of them. Yeager understood that Kaz didn't want to hear the hard truth but said that they were going to have to do the same to her. Kaz sadly agreed with Yeager.

Back aboard the Thunderer, Tam was resting in her quarters. She was visited by Agent Tierny and Lieutenant Galek. Tierny informed Cadet Pilot DT-533 that they were impressed with her skill and bravery and that she had been promoted to Second Squadron Commander. Tierny congratulated Miss Ryvora before leaving with Galek. Tam saluted her commanding officers.