Aboard an Imperial ship, Governor Arihnda Pryce reprimands Goran, an Imperial flight instructor, for three of his students defecting from the Empire. Commander Vult Skerris corrects her, saying that he shot one of them out of the sky as they escaped and expressing his skepticism about Pryce's belief that the pilots were the best. Goran admits that they were his responsibility, vowing to recapture them if given the chance. Pryce grants him the opportunity, provided he does not return empty-handed, and Goran flies away in a TIE interceptor.
Meanwhile on Chopper Base, Wedge Antilles and Derek Klivian speak to Hera Syndulla about making the situation right. Syndulla is compassionate but unsure about allowing the pilots to leave the planet on their own. However, Antilles insists that he and Klivian pay their respects to Rake Gahree's family, as he was the third pilot who had been shot down in their attempt to escape the Imperials. Sabine Wren defends the pilots, explaining they had been working hard as members of the Rebellion, and Syndulla reluctantly grants them permission to leave, warning them to return to Atollon at the first sign of trouble.
The two pilots fly A-wings offworld and find Gahree's father, who is working under the hood of a landspeeder. Cautiously, Antilles and Klivian approach him, but the man quickly recognizes them, accusing them of killing his son. Angrily holding up a tool, the father gestures for them to go inside, while Klivian objects that they mean him no harm. Once the rebels enter the door, they are met with Goran, who holds them at blasterpoint and assures them that no one will see them ever again. Antilles and Klivian are seated at a table while Gahree's mother and brother enter as well, their faces solemn and sinister.
Goran labels the two pilots as traitors to the Empire who had squandered their opportunities in flight training, saying that their families and old friends now know the truth about them. Antilles insists that anyone who knows them won't believe the Empire's lies, but Goran explains that, on the contrary, many of them have enlisted to track them down. Goran urges them to rejoin him and reveal the rebels' secrets, promising that they will be heroes to the Empire. However, Gahree's father and mother are enraged; because they have been told that Antilles and Klivian killed their son, they want justice. In the confusion, Antilles kicks the table into Goran, and he and Klivian run out of the building.
Near their ships, Klivian voices his fear that Goran is right about their families' hatred for them. Antilles insists that the only way they can expose the truth is by continuing to fight the Empire, as they both know the enemy's capabilities. He boards his A-wing and tells Klivian to stay behind, knowing Goran would begin following the rebel ships immediately after he reaches the sky. As predicted, Goran's TIE interceptor begins trailing the A-wing, and Antilles takes evasive action before signaling Klivian via comlink. His partner emerges in the second A-wing and corners a surprised Goran, quickly shooting him down. As they fly away, Klivian wonders how everything became a mess, to which Antilles replies that the stakes are high, and they will be unable to go home until the war is finished.