The Protector of Concord Dawn

The rebel group is in search of a new hyperspace lane that leads to Lothal. Therefore, they travel to Concord Dawn, a system under Mandalorian control, hoping to secure permission for their fleet to pass safely. However, the Protectors, who are warriors guarding the system, are not very receptive. Consequently, it falls to Kanan and Sabine to attempt to transform this group into either allies or adversaries.

The Galactic Empire is relentless in its pursuit of the burgeoning rebellion, which makes traversing the Outer Rim Territories increasingly challenging for the rebels. The Ghost's crew convenes with Commander Jun Sato and Captain Rex aboard the rebel flagship named Liberator. During this meeting, the rebels deliberate on possible strategies to establish a fresh hyperspace route toward the Lothal sector. Sabine Wren puts forward the idea of utilizing the Concord Dawn system, which hosts a Mandalorian settlement on the planet Concord Dawn that is currently outside Imperial control. This system is renowned for its exceptional warriors, known as the Protectors, who, according to Rex, once provided training to clone troopers during the [Clone Wars](/article/clone_wars]. Wren points out that these warriors adhere to their own set of rules, suggesting a potential alliance with the rebellion against the Empire. Sato, skeptical about the possibility of diplomacy with Mandalorian warriors, suggests deploying a military force to Concord Dawn. However, Captain Hera Syndulla, who leads Phoenix Cell, along with the Jedi Kanan Jarrus, advocate for a diplomatic approach. Successfully securing permission to navigate the rebel fleet through the Concord Dawn system could potentially lead to the recruitment of the Protectors into the rebellion, thereby augmenting their forces. Despite his reservations, Sato allows Syndulla to undertake the mission, and Wren volunteers to accompany her.

Syndulla pilots Phoenix Squadron toward Concord Dawn. Upon their arrival, they are intercepted by three Mandalorian Fang fighters. These Mandalorians approach the rebel RZ-1 A-wing interceptors, and Fenn Rau, the lead pilot and Protector of Concord Dawn, demands an explanation for their presence in the system. Syndulla clarifies their intention to seek safe passage and offer their support to Concord Dawn against the Empire. Upon recognizing the A-wings as belonging to the rebellion, Rau orders an attack on Phoenix Squadron, as he is aligned with the Empire's interests. During the subsequent dogfight, the Phoenix Squadron fighters manage to evade their attackers, but two pilots, Phoenix Three and Phoenix Four, are shot down. Syndulla orders a retreat and leads Rau on a pursuit, providing Wren and the remaining Phoenix pilot an opportunity to escape before being shot down. As Rau and his fighters chase Syndulla, Phoenix Two manages to escape, but Wren refuses to abandon Syndulla. Despite taking significant damage, Syndulla orders Wren to leave, assuring her that she will follow closely behind.

Wren successfully returns to the rebel fleet, but Syndulla is nowhere to be found. Jarrus contacts Wren to inquire about what transpired, and shortly thereafter, Syndulla's severely damaged starfighter emerges from hyperspace. Syndulla, critically injured, is promptly taken back to the fleet for medical treatment. Although she is alive and recovering, Wren is burdened by guilt for leaving Syndulla and vows to seek retribution against the Protectors. She then attends a debriefing with Commander Sato and the remaining members of the Ghost crew, excluding Syndulla, where she recounts the attack by Fenn Rau. Both Rex and Jarrus recognize Rau; Rex recalls him as an instructor for the Grand Army of the Republic, while Jarrus remembers fighting alongside Rau in the Third Battle of Mygeeto during the Clone Wars. Concluding that negotiations are no longer viable, Wren suggests destroying the Protectors' fighters to eliminate the threat they pose to the rebel fleet. She has tracked the fighters to the third moon of Concord Dawn, where she believes their base is located. Jarrus proposes infiltrating the base and destroying the Fang fighters before engaging with the fleet. Commander Sato approves the mission, but Jarrus intends to proceed alone to minimize the risk to his crew members. He selects only Chopper to accompany him and takes their attack shuttle, named the Phantom, to Concord Dawn.

Upon arriving at Concord Dawn, Jarrus discovers that Wren has secretly boarded the Phantom, determined to avenge Syndulla's injuries caused by the Protectors. As they approach the third moon, Jarrus reveals that destroying the Fang fighters is merely a contingency plan, as he still aims to find a diplomatic resolution. Nearing the moon's surface, Chopper drops them off near the Protectors Camp before piloting the Phantom away from the base. While conducting reconnaissance on the camp's periphery, Jarrus and Wren determine that the base houses a total of eight fighters, including those involved in the attack on Phoenix Squadron. Given the dispersed positioning of the fighters, Wren estimates that it will take some time to place explosive charges on each one. An Imperial shuttle soon arrives to deliver supplies to the Protectors, and the two rebels observe Rau accepting the supplies from the Imperials and reporting on his encounter with the rebels. With this clear connection between the Protectors and the Empire, Wren expresses doubt about the feasibility of Jarrus' plan. Nevertheless, they proceed with their diplomatic approach, reserving hostilities as a last resort.

The rebels stealthily approach the base, and Jarrus follows Rau into a building while Wren begins placing her explosives. Rau detects the Jedi's presence and allows Jarrus to reveal himself, intending to shoot him down regardless. Jarrus identifies himself as a Jedi and recounts their shared participation in the Third Battle of Mygeeto, where Rau and Skull Squadron rescued him and his master, Depa Billaba, from a Separatist assault. Rau recalls the battle, admitting to being young and reckless at the time, but fails to see the relevance of the battle to Jarrus's infiltration of his base. Jarrus appeals to him to join the rebellion, but the Protector expresses no interest in opposing the Empire. In his view, the rebellion lacks any chance of success, so he sees no reason to align with a losing cause. Jarrus challenges this assertion, but Rau remains resistant to engaging in another futile war alongside the Jedi.

During their conversation, Wren manages to plant explosives on seven of the eight starfighters before being discovered. Held at gunpoint, she reveals her affiliation with Clan Wren, a part of House Vizsla, and declares her intention to seek justice through single combat. Due to her clan's allegiance with House Vizsla, the Protectors who apprehended her brand her as a traitorous member of Death Watch. They inform Rau that Wren has invoked the Mandalorian code to demand combat, and the two Mandalorians confront each other. Jarrus attempts to dissuade Wren from engaging and making enemies of the Protectors, but Wren refuses. As Rau draws his blaster pistol, Wren shoots it out of his hand and activates her explosives, destroying the seven fighters. Rau's fighter remains undamaged, and he uses it to attack the rebel fleet. Jarrus clings to the fighter as it ascends into the sky. The Jedi manages to inflict critical damage, seize Rau from the cockpit, and leap into the approaching Phantom.

As the Phantom heads back to the rebel fleet, Rau's forces contact him, informing him that they are mobilizing their reserve fighters to pursue the rebels. Realizing that engaging the rebels would draw the Empire into their territory, Rau orders his men to stand down and conceal his capture from the Empire. Consequently, the rebels are granted passage through the Concord Dawn system. The rebels return to the fleet with Rau as their captive, and the Protector emphasizes that their alliance is purely out of necessity. Rebel soldiers escort Rau into custody, while Jarrus and Wren visit Syndulla, who expresses her satisfaction with the outcome of their mission.

The episode "The Protector of Concord Dawn" delves into the background of Sabine Wren, a central character in the series, and her connection to the Mandalorian people. The episode reveals her family's, Clan Wren's, alliance with House Vizsla, leading members of the Protectors to label her as a traitorous member of Death Watch. In the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Death Watch was depicted as a splinter faction that opposed the pacifist policies of Duchess Satine Kryze, the ruler of Mandalore, and her New Mandalorian government. Death Watch aimed to reinstate Mandalore's warrior traditions and repeatedly attempted to seize control of the planet from Duchess Satine, even briefly aligning with Count Dooku and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Ultimately, Death Watch succeeded in taking over Mandalore by partnering with Darth Maul and his Shadow Collective. Pre Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch, was killed by Darth Maul, who, after assassinating Duchess Satine, became the ruler of Mandalore. Maul's rise to power triggered further internal conflict among the Mandalorian people, with Death Watch members loyal to Pre Vizsla turning against Maul's followers. Pablo Hidalgo, a creative executive at Lucasfilm, disclosed that the concluding episodes of The Clone Wars would have included a narrative centered on Mandalore and a Galactic Republic occupation of the planet, which would have ultimately resulted in Mandalore becoming a member of the Empire, thus setting the stage for the Mandalorian storyline in Star Wars Rebels.

In addition to the takeover of Mandalore, the episode also alludes to the Mandalorian Civil War, a conflict that shaped the backstory of Duchess Satine and the New Mandalorian government's ascent to power. During the war, Duchess Satine was pursued by forces seeking to dismantle her pacifist government. The war transformed Mandalore into a wasteland, and the New Mandalorian government embarked on a mission to rebuild Mandalorian society. According to Sabine, the Protectors were among the factions that participated in the conflict.

The Third Battle of Mygeeto is also mentioned in the episode as a conflict where both Kanan Jarrus and Fenn Rau fought. The events of the battle are showcased in Kanan 10. During the battle, Jarrus, then known as Padawan Caleb Dume, fights alongside his master, Depa Billaba, and their clone forces on Mygeeto. They become isolated and are nearly ambushed by a large Separatist force of battle droids, but they are rescued by the arrival of Fenn Rau and Skull Squadron. The young Caleb Dume wished he could express his gratitude to Rau for his assistance, which he finally gets to do when he meets Rau in "The Protector of Concord Dawn."