"The Axe Forgets" marks the fifth installment of Andor's inaugural season. This episode was brought to life by director Susanna White and writer Dan Gilroy, and it was originally broadcast on October 5 of 2022.
For Cassian, teamwork isn't second nature, yet the perilous assignment to penetrate the Imperial base demands it. The operation has been meticulously planned over several months. As the latest addition to the team, Cassian is compelled to overcome the justified skepticism of his fellow operatives.
On Coruscant, Syril Karn is disheartened and seeks solace with his mother, who offers advice regarding the burdens of command. When Karn inquires about her absence, Eedy Karn explains that an open invitation carries less weight. Eedy points out that her son's job prospects are dim due to the Ferrix incident. Eedy assures Syril that she will ask Uncle Harlo for a favor. Syril is doubtful and questions what Harlo would employ him for. Eedy claims that Harlo can connect Syril with a potential employer and reassures her son that Harlo understands what is best.
Elsewhere, on Aldhani, Cassian Jeron Andor (alias "Clem") awakens in his dwelling to discover his weapons are gone. He discovers Arvel Skeen outside, having searched his weapons under the orders of Vel Sartha. Skeen deduces that "Clem" departed hastily and inquires about his arm. Skeen notices a weapon belonging to Luthen Rael, but Andor refuses to disclose his identity. Skeen displays his tattoos, including a Krayt Head and "By the Hand," which Andor recognizes. Skeen uses his tattoos to try and form a connection with "Clem."
"Clem" reveals to Skeen that he attended a Sipo youth center at the age of 13 years old, where he spent three years. Skeen is dubious of "Clem"'s backstory, declaring that "the axe forgets, but the tree remembers." Andor infers that Skeen joined Sartha's rebel group for vengeance. Andor states that he was sent to assist and concedes that he is not a team player.
Skeen discusses his fellow team members, describing Karis Nemik as naive yet a true believer, and Cinta Kaz as cold and fearless. Skeen claims Lieutenant Gorn is crucial to their strategy. Andor questions whether the lieutenant is leading them into a trap. Skeen poses the question back to him. Andor asserts that he is there to triumph and escape.
At Mon Mothma's Coruscant residence, Mothma shares breakfast with her husband Perrin Fertha and daughter Leida. Mothma had arranged for the driver Exmar Kloris to transport Leida to her morning class. Leida reveals that her father will be taking her to school since she does not have an early class. Mothma instructs Leida to retrieve her coat, but her daughter refuses to participate in her mother's plan. Leida accuses her mother of exploiting her for her own purposes. An agitated Mothma departs from breakfast early.
Back on Aldhani, Karis Nemik offers Andor some dray milk for breakfast, which he describes as an acquired taste. He shows Andor a navigational device that he has been constructing. Nemik says that he is attempting to reduce their reliance on Imperial technology before discussing freedom. Skeen believes that Nemik is consumed by ideas and philosophy. Nemik continues to discuss the Imperial "thought machine" concealing atrocities. Skeen asks "Clem" for his opinion, but Andor is not in a talkative mood. Nemik proceeds to discuss reconciling technology with freedom.
Taramyn Barcona summons "Clem" for a meeting in his hut. When Nemik asks Skeen if he distrusts "Clem," Skeen responds that he does not trust him. Sartha and Barcona question Andor about the carrying capacity of their escape ship. Andor realizes that they are unaware of how to extract the payrolls from the Imperial base. Barcona asks "Clem" how he would input the weight. Utilizing his knowledge of machinery, Andor explains that there is a load clutch containing information on the weight. Andor insists on piloting the starship carrying the stolen payrolls. Outside, Taramyn uses the hill and surrounding forest to illustrate the layout of the Imperial base.
At the Aldhani Garrison's base, Lieutenant Gorn scolds two other Imperial officers for failing to order their men to clear a nearby three-fingered structure that has been used for target practice. Barcona tells "Clem" that his cover story is that he is an Imperial Private and sentry who has been transferred from the Alkenzi Air Base for special duty. Barcona asks "Clem" if he knows how to walk like an Imperial soldier.
Meanwhile, on Ferrix, Imperial Security Bureau Lieutenant Supervisor Blevin observes as workers clear damage resulting from the fighting during the Ferrix incident. Captain Vanis Tigo is removing guests and furniture from a hotel, which the ISB has commandeered as their new headquarters. Tigo asks if he could be made a Prefect. Blevin jokes that he could wear a ball gown if he wanted and tells Tigo to get his headquarters operational by the following day.
Taramyn drills "Clem" and the three other male rebels on marching and holding blasters as Imperial soldiers. Their strategy involves Lieutenant Gorn granting them entry into the base. Andor notes that Skeen is left-handed and suggests altering the position of his blaster. The rest of the team are right-handed. Tamaryn reluctantly agrees to switch.
Kaz spots an approaching TIE fighter, which circles a nearby forest before descending and passing their camp. Nemik assures "Clem" that they will soon realize that "surprise from above is not as shocking as surprise from below." The TIE fighter returns to the local Imperial garrison, which includes a dam wall as part of its fortifications.
Lieutenant Gorn converses with Corporal Kimzi. Kimzi inquires whether it is true that they are planning to demolish the panoramic landscape to make way for the expanded Imperial airbase. Gorn confirms this is the case. Kimzi asks about the local Dhanis. Gorn instructs the Corporal to return to work and warns him that he will be making rounds the following day. Kaz tends to Andor's arm. Andor takes offense at Skeen for checking his pouch. Andor dresses in an Imperial Army uniform with Taramyn watching.
Elsewhere, ISB Supervisor Dedra Meero walks past Blevin and several aides discussing plans for an upcoming conference. Later, Meero gets ISB Attendant Heert to search the Imperial ledgers for the missing objects. Heert checks the Hosnian register, but it does not report any missing objects. Heert says that the Imperial Navy ledgers are the only thing left to consult, but that they never admit any mistakes. Meero allows Heert to leave, but he insists on staying with his superior officer. Meero admits that she does not know what she is doing.
However, Heert reassures her that they are onto something. He notices a pattern of stolen items from Kessel, Fondor, targeting consoles from Jakku, proton warheads from Base Cay, and the Starpath Unit from the Steergard Naval Yard. Meero and Heert deduce that the rebels are dispersing their thefts in an attempt to make their attacks appear to be random. Meero proposes that they search two more files each.
On Aldhani, "Clem" and his rebel allies gather around a fire consisting of their model of the Imperial base before their planned heist. Sartha and her comrades give a toast for the Rebellion. The following day, they travel towards the base. During their travels, Sartha gets "Clem" to repeat the various stages and signals associated with their planned heist. Andor asks why they are relying on an Imperial lieutenant. Sartha explains that Gorn fell in love with a local Dhani woman and lost his promotion. He also lost the woman, which caused him to lose his taste for the Empire. She adds that everyone has their own personal rebellion.
Back on Coruscant, Eedy tells her son Syril that Uncle Harlo thought that police work did not fit her son. Syril asks what field Harlo thinks that he should pursue. Eedy tells Syril that she related his experiences on Ferrix as best as she could. She adds that they are counting on Harlo's judgement for Syril's career plans.
At the Aldhani Garrison base, Lieutenant Gorn confronts two of his subordinates about an unpainted wall, stressing that they are expecting a visit by a Coruscant engineer today. When the two corporals tell him that many of the soldiers assigned to Aldhani do not want to be there and are demoralized, he relents and tells them to get the wall painted by the following afternoon.
While the rebel band is resting, Skeen ambushes "Clem" and cuts off his Kuati Signet, which he observes is made from sky kyber. Skeen accuses "Clem" of concealing his past. Sartha tries to regain control, but Skeen insists on knowing who Andor actually is. Andor replies that Skeen knows who exactly he is and reaches for his blaster. Barcona and Sartha try to calm things down. Nemik spots a ship approaching from the valley. Vel orders them to pack up and tells Skeen to return the stone. Skeen reluctantly complies. Nemik reports that the ship is approaching the garrison, which helps calm the situation.
Andor admits that he is a mercenary. When Barcona questions Sartha, she tells him that Rael insisted that she include "Clem" or he would call off the mission. Skeen thinks that they should have called off the mission earlier. Andor says that he is only willing to take the risk with the mission because of the money. When he suggests that they are afraid, Skeen counters that maybe "Clem" is afraid. Andor replies that there is a difference between being afraid and losing one's nerve. If they bail out, he tells them not to use him as an excuse. After Kaz confirms that she is unaware, Sartha decides to hold off on discussing "Clem"'s past until after their mission.
On Coruscant, Senator Mothma and Fertha travel on an airspeeder following their meeting with Gar Tafeed. Fertha says that Tafeed knows more about what Mothma is up to than him. Fertha asks Mothma when she was planning to tell him about her new charitable foundation. Fertha asks the driver Kloris to take the expressway. Meanwhile, Karn studies a hologram of Andor.
Approaching the Aldhani Imperial base, Skeen observes that the Imperial base resembles Nemik's model. Nemik says that he has had plenty of time to study the site. Sartha tells them that they need to get a fire up. At the base, Lieutenant Gorn spots the rebels' fire. Skeen tells "Clem" that the Empire killed his brother. He explains that an Imperial Prefect flooded his brother's land. In despair, his brother committed suicide by filling his pockets with stone and jumping into a river. Skeen says this is what motivated his hatred of the Empire. When Andor asks what his brother was growing, Skeen explains that his brother had been growing pepper trees, which had lived for centuries. Skeen says this is as close to apology he will be getting, which Andor accepts.
Sartha tells Andor that Barcona will now be in charge of the mission. Sartha says that she will reunite with them the following night if the mission succeeds. Barcona asks Andor if he can accept his leadership, which Andor accepts. The rebels get to work.
At Galactic Antiquities and Objects of Interest, Luthen Rael waits to hear for a transmission on a transmitter. His assistant Kleya Marki tells him that he has been waiting for over an hour and tells him to switch it off. Rael confides that he is worried about the mission and recruiting Andor. Rael thinks that he took a risk in including Andor for the Aldhani mission. Since they have clients tomorrow, they decide to close shop for the night.