Farnus, Nerva, Kallak, and the survivors of his squad make a desperate dash for the Knight Mechanicus known as the Faithful Flame. Nerva is certain she can awaken and control the vast war machine, if given the chance, and knows too much is at stake not to try. Meanwhile, Kallie Delta uses herself as a distraction, buying time as she flays dozens of clones. But, thousands yet remain...
And in a distant part of Azure City, the citizens of Axum stir, assemble, and prepare to fight for the Jedi, the Republic, and the honor of Axum! Yet, are they truly prepared to bear the cost of honor?
Tropes in this episode include:
- Armor-Piercing Question: As part of the Heroism Motive Speech that Kombirr gives to his mother in response to being forbidden from joining the Axum resistance, he points out how she has always taught him to honor their ancestors and asks her if giving up instead of fighting for their freedom would dishonor their ancestors. Vinorra is unable to argue against that and ultimately agrees to let Kombirr and his father join the resistance.
- Continuity Nod:
- Sergeant Kallak Norn dies the exact same way that Hevy from The Clone Wars episode "Rookies" does, even uttering the same Last Words.
- The Axum Resistance use a similar strategy while facing the Imperial Guard at the end of the episode that the Gungans used against the Trade Federation's Droid Army in The Phantom Menace. They use a giant force field dome to shield themselves from Imperial tank and artillery fire, thereby hopefully forcing the Imperial Guardsmen to close the distance. However, the Karkosan Untouchables and Black Karminians are much more savvy than the battle droids and simply fire a mini-nuke to destroy the force field.
- Cutting the Knot: The Karkosan Untouchables and Obsidian Guard are faced with a puzzle in the form of a heavily-fortified rebel roadblock protected by a large forcefield which soaks up their artillery and tank fire. The rebel leader boasts that this leaves them with no choice but to close the distance and enter the forcefield to engage in close-quarters combat with the Axumites, who significantly outnumber the Imperials and have the Homefield Advantage. The Obsidian Guard simply destroy the forcefield and most of the rebels within by firing a single mini-nuke.
- Dead Guy on Display: Near the end of the episode, the Imperial Guardsmen from a relay station who were killed in battle earlier in the episode have their bloodied and mutilated corpses strung up and hanged outside near a street by Axum freedom fighters to try intimidating the encroaching Imperial reinforcements.
- EMP: Commander Bly and his clone troopers use EMP grenades while battling Kailie Delta in this episode. Kailie notes in her internal narration that what the Clones call "EMP grenades" aren't actually electromagnetic pulses, being far too powerful and effective against technologies that are supposed to be shielded from EMPs, making the name a misnomer.
- Fantastic Slur: Kallak Norn refers to the T'au as "blue skins".
- Foreshadowing: There are a few times where Samael's disguise as an Axumite rebel slips up, hinting at his true allegiance.
- He comments how Kombirr's Mandalorian Ripper Rifle "didn't look like any Ripper Guns I'd know about." In 40K, Ripper Guns are heavy, oversized automatic shotguns used by Ogryns.
- While talking to Kombirr after the battle in which Kombirr's father was killed, Samael uses the Imperial expletive "fek".
- Upon learning that Kombirr's father died, Samael almost says "Burning Throne" while comforting Kombirr, but manages to catch himself mid-sentence.
- Samael refers to an Imperial Sentinel by its actual name whereas Kombirr and the other Republic characters refer to them as "Imperial ATs".
- Finally and most damning of all, the lighter Samael gifts to Kombirr has the Imperial Aquila engraved on it alongside a quote written in Gothic from the Liber Doctrina Ordo Hereticus's chapter about Exterminatus.
- Heroic Wannabe: The unnamed Axumite speaker from near the end of the episode seems to think of himself as a Rebel Leader who will lead his people to liberate Axum from the Imperium's oppressive rule. However, he is clearly in way over his head and gets Killed Mid-Sentence while trying to deliver a Badass Boast to two disinterested Imperial Guard regiments, who blow him up mid-speech with a miniature nuke.
- Hollywood Tactics: This episode has tens of thousands of Axumite rebels armed with mostly standard blasters charge in a disorganized mob on an open street at a fortified Imperial bunker being defended by an automated Heavy Bolter turret and a pair of Armored Sentinels equipped with anti-infantry weapons. Predictably, the rebels are killed in droves and only prevail due to their sheer numbers alongside some well-placed shots from Kombirr's Ripper rifle. Considering that the overwhelming majority of these rebels were armed civilians with no military training or experience, this is hardly surprising.
- Moral Disambiguation: Discussed by Kombirr as part of his Heroism Motive Speech. Kombirr admits that he had been feeling conflicted about the Clone Wars due to the Graying Morality between the Republic and Confederacy (hence why he and his family chose to not get involved), but insists that he has an easier time supporting the Republic in their new war with the Imperium because things are not so morally grey this time around as the Imperials' acts of mass genocide on Axum can be considered nothing short of pure evil.
- Nuke 'em: At the end of the episode, a Baneblade fires a small nuclear rocket to clear away a rebel roadblock being protected by a forcefield.
- Repeated for Emphasis: Vinorra does this while pleading for her husband and son to not join the Axum rebels in their fight against the Imperium's occupation.Vinorra: You need to listen to me, to face the Imperium is to face death! It's death, Harrod! Whether you won, or whether you lose, it's death, death, DEATH!
- A Simple Plan: The plan that Nerva and Kallak's squad comes up with to sneak through a captured Imperial base full of clone troopers in order to reach an Imperial Knight that Nerva can pilot. It gets derailed almost immediately as Janus is discovered in his hiding place by the clone troopers and Kallak gets mortally shot in the chest not longer after.Kallak: Alright, the plan is simple. Janus, you are sticking here. Hide and keep an eye on the lift controls. With any luck we won't have to signal Rejjon to use the lift from above, and you can hop on with us as we leave. Farnus — you, me, and Galla are gonna escort our fair lady over here to her chariot. Once inside, we'll hang on tight to whatever we can.
- Villain Opening Scene: This episode opens with the perspective of Magos Domina Kallie Delta as she slaughters her way through some of the 327th's clone troopers under Bly's command.
- We All Die Someday: Kombirr tells his mother this as part of the Heroism Motive Speech he gives her when she initially refuses to let him join the Axum Resistance due to fearing for his life.
- Witch with a Capital "B": During the fight between Kallie Delta and Commander Bly's clone troopers, Bly tells his men that Kallie is "just a witch" while they attempt to figure out a way to defeat her.
- You Taught Me That: As part of his Heroism Motive Speech to his mother, Kombirr reminds her how she taught him the importance of fighting for freedom and honoring their ancestors. He then argues that if they didn't join the fight to liberate Axum from the Imperium's control, then they would all be dishonoring their dead ancestors.
