Plan of Dissent

"Following the Republic's successful capture of an Umbaran airfield, General Krell commands Rex and his squad to advance towards the heavily defended capital city. However, some clone troopers, convinced of a superior strategy, defy these orders and embark on a clandestine, unauthorized operation."

As the clone troopers get ready to secure the captured airbase, Obi-Wan Kenobi communicates troubling news: his own forces are under heavy fire from long-range missile attacks. Furthermore, the Umbaran forces, having lost their airbase, are now receiving supplies from a support ship protected by a formidable fleet. The Umbarans interrupt the transmission before Obi-Wan can provide more details. Krell then makes the decision to march directly on the capital city to swiftly end the conflict, rejecting Rex's suggestion to re-establish contact with Obi-Wan for a coordinated assault.

Rex's briefing to his men about the upcoming mission sparks disagreement among the troopers. While some, including Rex (though reluctantly) and Dogma, remain loyal to Krell as a Jedi General, others, notably Fives and Jesse, openly question his military judgment, citing his obvious stubbornness and lack of concern for his troops. During a discussion with Rex, Fives reveals that the clones have access to Umbaran fighters and their access codes, enabling them to bypass enemy defenses undetected. Rex is convinced and presents the plan to Krell, but the Besalisk Jedi dismisses it as a "waste" of men on a "frivolous adventure." Rex reluctantly informs the squad of Krell's decision, but Fives insists on proceeding with the covert attack regardless. This creates tension within the group, with most clones siding with Fives, except for Dogma, who becomes suspicious of his dissenting comrades.

After leaving the barracks, Fives confronts Rex, challenging his support for Krell's plan. Despite his inner conflict, Rex argues that they are bound by duty to follow orders and see themselves as part of a larger strategy, without questioning. Frustrated, Fives insists that he cannot obey orders that he knows are wrong and allow others to suffer, emphasizing that he values the lives of his friends more than blind obedience. Fives ends the conversation, declaring his intention to find accomplices for his plan, leaving Rex increasingly troubled and conflicted.

In the hangar, Fives and Hardcase attempt a quick training session with an Umbaran fighter. However, the practice run turns into a literal crash when Hardcase struggles to control the fighter, causing damage and disruption to the facility. Eventually, a fellow trooper and an accidentally fired missile by Hardcase reveal their scheme. Fives and Hardcase barely manage to explain the chaos as a booby trap in the fighter's programming, but this only reinforces Krell's belief that the fighter infiltration mission will end in disaster, leading him to officially reject the plan, much to Rex's exasperation.

Despite this setback, Fives, Hardcase, and Jesse decide to proceed with their plan. Fives outlines a strategy to attack the supply ship's main reactor from within, recalling Anakin Skywalker's similar tactic as a boy. Before they depart, Fives informs Rex of his unwavering intention to carry out the plan because he believes it is the right thing to do. Rex, realizing he cannot dissuade them, warns them that he will not be able to protect them if they are caught.

The renegade troopers hijack three Umbaran fighters and head towards the supply fleet. Meanwhile, Dogma notices Fives and his group missing from the barracks and persuades Tup to inform General Krell, arguing that failure to do so would make them complicit in the act. Krell, unaware of the situation, reprimands Rex for the unauthorized launch of the fighters. Despite his earlier warning to Fives, Rex cleverly explains that the fighters were launched on a reconnaissance mission for the upcoming assault on the capital, temporarily easing Krell's suspicions. However, he then spots Dogma and Tup attempting to reach Krell and manages to intercept them at the last moment.

Fives, Hardcase, and Jesse reach their target only to discover the supply fleet under heavy assault by Republic forces. They manage to infiltrate the supply ship's main hangar, but a battle droid identifies them, triggering an alarm. The reactor is immediately protected by ray shields, thwarting the clones' attempt to destroy it and forcing them to confront an approaching droid interception force. Hardcase spontaneously detaches a missile pod from his fighter and, exiting his vessel, manually guides it into the reactor system, sacrificing himself to ensure the mission's success. Fives and Jesse narrowly escape the exploding ship, while Rex and Tup witness the explosion from the ground, prompting a proud smile from Rex.

Fives and Jesse return to the airbase, where they, Rex, and Tup briefly mourn Hardcase's loss. Appo and other troopers confront the squad, informing Rex that the rogue clones are to be taken to Krell. To protect Fives and Jesse, Rex attempts to take responsibility, but Fives tries to do the same for Rex. Krell remains unforgiving and vows to have both Fives and Jesse court-martialed and executed for their "act of insubordination."

During a scene outside the Umbaran airbase, when Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase approached Rex to discuss their plan, Jesse was positioned to Fives' right, while Hardcase was on his left in one shot. However, in the subsequent shot, their positions were reversed.

Additionally, during the flight sequence with Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase, Jesse expresses his unease, but when Fives responds, he mistakenly says "Easy, Hardcase" instead of "Easy, Jesse."

In the final scene, the markings on Jesse's helmet were absent in one shot.

A reference to A New Hope is made in this episode when Krell demands to know which clone he is speaking to, asking "Who is this? What's your CT number?" This echoes the exchange Han Solo has with an Imperial officer following the firefight in the Death Star's detention block.