"Gathering Forces," the ninth episode of Star Wars Rebels, an animated television series, serves as the winter finale for its first season. Notably, it holds the position of being the ninth episode in the entire series run.
Greg Weisman is credited as the writer of this episode, while Steward Lee took on the role of director. Prior to its Disney XD premiere on November 24, "Gathering Forces" was initially made available on WatchDisneyXD.com on November 17, 2014.
As the Inquisitor persists in his relentless pursuit of the Ghost crew, Ezra endeavors to forge a connection with the Force.
Having successfully rescued the Rodian named Tseebo, the Spectres make their escape aboard the Ghost, soaring into the vast expanse of space. However, their freedom is short-lived as they find themselves relentlessly pursued by a squadron of TIE fighters and the Grand Inquisitor's distinct TIE Advanced v1 starfighter. Amidst this intense chase, Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren grapple with the weight of Tseebo's revelation concerning the fate of Ezra's parents. When Ezra demands confirmation about his parents' demise, Tseebo implores for forgiveness, admitting his failure to protect them. Consumed by anger towards Tseebo's involvement in his parents' disappearance, Ezra vehemently refuses to grant him absolution.
With Chopper temporarily out of commission, Hera Syndulla enlists Ezra's assistance in repairing the Ghost's navigation computer. As Ezra struggles with the repairs, Tseebo unexpectedly enters the cockpit and directly inputs the hyperspace coordinates into the ship's computer, initiating a jump into hyperspace. Unbeknownst to the rebel group from Lothal, the Inquisitor had cunningly attached an XX-23 S-thread tracker to the Ghost's auxiliary vessel, the Phantom. Aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer known as the Relentless, the Inquisitor informs Admiral Kassius Konstantine of his plan to utilize the tracker to locate the Ghost.
While traversing through hyperspace, the rebel group from Lothal engages in a discussion regarding how to address the situation with Tseebo. Due to the deep-seated resentment Ezra harbors towards Tseebo for his involvement in his parents' disappearance, he expresses a reluctance to assist him, stating that he neither knows nor cares what to do. Ezra's remarks prompt his master, Kanan Jarrus, to caution him that he will never progress as a Jedi if he cannot confront his own emotions. Tseebo abruptly interrupts the meeting to announce that the Imperials are actively tracking the Ghost. Utilizing his cybernetic implants, Tseebo projects a holographic representation of the XX-23 S thread tracker's schematics.
Under Hera's command, Chopper conducts a scan of the Ghost and discovers the tracker affixed to the hull of the Phantom. When Hera suggests jettisoning the Phantom into hyperspace, Kanan proposes that he and his apprentice, Ezra, could utilize the Phantom as a diversion to draw the Imperials away from their true objective: Tseebo. While Kanan and Ezra keep the Inquisitor occupied, the remaining members of the Ghost crew, along with Tseebo, will rendezvous with the enigmatic rebel operative known as Fulcrum, who will then oversee Tseebo's well-being.
Ezra consents to Kanan's plan but expresses unease regarding Kanan's choice of destination: the asteroid base PM-1203, which serves as the habitat for a species of aggressive nocturnal predators known as fyrnocks. Kanan intends for his apprentice to harness his Force abilities to establish a connection with the fyrnocks. After executing a perilous maneuver to detach from the Ghost, the Phantom successfully lands on PM-1203. Following considerable effort, Ezra manages to bond with the fyrnocks by confronting his deepest fear: the truth surrounding the fate of his parents. Ezra also finds resolution by forgiving Tseebo, an act that resonates through the Force and is perceived by the Rodian, who reciprocates with an apology for betraying Ezra's parents. Having reconciled with his fear and resentment, Ezra is able to forge a connection with the fyrnocks.
Shortly thereafter, the Inquisitor arrives with a contingent of stormtroopers and proceeds to infiltrate the base, having sensed Ezra and Kanan's presence through the Force. The Inquisitor and the stormtroopers are immediately besieged by the fyrnocks, who swiftly overwhelm the stormtroopers. However, the Inquisitor employs the Force to repel the fyrnocks that attempt to attack him. Kanan and Ezra engage the Inquisitor in a lightsaber duel but are unable to match his superior lightsaber skills and Force abilities. In an attempt to protect his master, Ezra taps into the Dark Side and utilizes it to summon the mother fyrnock to attack the Inquisitor. Ezra's actions enable him and Kanan to evade the Imperials but leave Ezra weakened, causing him to lose consciousness.
Meanwhile, in the vastness of space, the Ghost arrives at its designated rendezvous point with Fulcrum: an Alderaanian blockade runner. Before boarding the blockade runner, Tseebo acknowledges his failure to protect Ezra's parents and reveals that he volunteered for a cybernetic implant as atonement for his past transgressions. He also confides in Hera that he possesses knowledge of the fate of Ezra's parents. Following the events on the asteroid, Kanan cautions Ezra about the importance of controlling his emotions to avoid succumbing to the Dark Side. Back on the Ghost, Ezra receives a holodisk from Sabine containing a holographic image of him and his parents as a belated birthday gift.