4 Big Ways Star Wars Rebels Just Set Up Rogue One

Project Stardust Vs. TIE Defenders

In "Jedi Night," Thrawn had a chat with Tarkin about the future of his TIE Defender project on Lothal. As it turns out, the TIE Defender project is in competition with Project Stardust, a.k.a. the Death Star construction as managed by Director Krennic and sabotaged by Galen Erso. Tarkin isn't a fan of Stardust and thinks that it's been a drain of money, and he believes there's more potential in the Defenders. Still, Thrawn is tasked with going to the Emperor and making a case for the Defenders in person. Rogue One revealed that Stardust will win the day with the Emperor, and Rebels just established that a lot of progress has been made on Stardust. The circumstances aren't clear yet, but Krennic will evidently out-pitch Thrawn to the Emperor.