Star Wars Rebels 4x8 Poll!

Protocol 13 is just an Empire code for evacuation of personnel from a planet. I'm pretty sure this specific instance, as David mentioned above, was specifically about Lothal, and this knowledge that the Empire is withdrawing its troops from Lothal is what gave Hera the final push she needed to get the attack on Lothal she desired.

IrishNexus

I think this specific use of protocol 13 is for Lothal. They don't need to necessarily be testing a superweapon, it could just mean they have no more use for the planet (or its inhabitants). Remember what happened on Geonosis.

I agree with Ian. I believe that it is simply the generic protocol given when they are considering destroying the planet with the death star. I also think they have introduced it early enough that the rebels may forget about it by the time they actually go to use the death star.

Ttol

I think Protocol 13 is just an allusion to the Death Star getting close to being finished to tie the story into the rest of the SW universe. Seems like the sort of order they'd give before sending it out to destroy a troublesome world under Imperial occupation.

Ian M

It sounded like it was a different problem, had it been Lothal I would think the Rebels would be more inclined to do something to help Lothal but they sounded as if it was a reason they couldn't send ships to attack the Defender project was because of this other issue somewhere else.

Ryan Witalison

I believe Protocol 13 refers to evacuating the troops from an occupied planet (like Jedha in Rogue One) but doesn't necessarily mean the Death Star is involved. They did the same thing on Geonosis before they poison bombed the whole planet so they have other means of wiping out a population

Seany McBuckets

I would imagine so. It feels like they are really hammering in the point this season that Lothal is the endgame for the show. And I don't mean that in a bad way. I'm just saying. They've said it many times that all paths are converging and they are converging on Lothal. I imagine the Will of the Force has something to do with it.

Austin Bryant

I think it is Lothal, though it is still about a year before Rogue One, I think it is likely that the empire intends to move the tie defender defender project and glass the planet with constant star destroyer fire for as long as it takes.

ObligedUniform

I think it's probably somewhere else because if they actually one reactored lothal the Rebels would know a lot more about this mysterious superweapon

Mr. Spice

No I am willing to bet there is gonna be a Death Star Related incident on this planet thats a test too the jedi crystal being used in some weapon before the Mining of jedha. There is time too do a 3 part episode on a Crystal Power test for the Empire.

Skeletor

I don’t think it’s Lothal, but I don’t think it’s Jedha either. It seems a little early to start setting up Rogue One. And it doesn’t make much sense to evacuate Lothal with the Tie Defender Factory located there.

Brandon K Buckhalter

I think it could be evacuating any location, like Jedha, before a Death Star attack.

Sam K