In the Aces' Lounge, Hype and the other pilots lament how they performed in battle against the First Order. Captain Doza suggests they train under experienced combat pilots; he names Yeager as the new squadron leader, and annoints Kaz as an Ace.

This new scenario irritates Hype, but Torra insists that if Yeager can make them better pilots, they must try.

Meanwhile, Tam, Jace Rucklin, and Lin Gaava fall in late for a flight exercize. The stern Lieutenant Galek admonishes them for arriving with their helmets off, and orders them to their ships.

The Aces commence with their own training exercize: non-lethal combat against Yeager and Kaz above an ice moon. Despite the uneven teams, Kaz and Yeager make quick work of the Aces, who fail to work together. Upon returning, Hype angrily quits the Aces.

Hype goes to Aunt Z's, and Kaz soon joins him. Hype chases him off -- an antenna twitching in annoyance -- and Torra soon comes to talk with her fellow Ace. "We're all stronger when we're together," she tells him.

The First Order cadets commence their live-fire training, with the goal of destroying the most X-wing drones. But when friendly fire tags Rucklin, he spins out of control toward the mothership.

Tam chases, gently bumping Jace's craft away and onto a safe path. Galek angrily recalls the cadets.

With his typical theatrics and bravado, Hype announces his return to the Aces. Yeager assigns Kaz as Hype's lead in the next training session above the ice moon, much to the surprise of both pilots.

As they fly over the planet surface, a giant beast emerges and follow's Hype's ship! The Aces switch to lasers, but their weapons have no effect on the beast's impervious exterior. As Yeager maneuvers below the creature, it grabs his ship.

Hype has an idea: since they can't hurt the creature, they should target the ice pillars. As the beast draws Yeager's ship toward its massive jaws, Hype gives the command. Firing together, they topple a pillar onto the animal, and it frees Yeager.

Back in the Star Destroyer hangar, Galek berates Tam for her actions, informing the cadet that her heroics cost her the role of squadron leader. "Your job was to destroy the enemy," she says. "Not to rescue lesser pilots who shouldn't have survived on their own merit."

At Aunt Z's, the pilots are joyous, and Hype expresses gratitude toward his wingmates. "Torra and Kaz were right," he says. "We make a mighty good team together." He welcomes Kaz into the Aces, though his antenna still twitches when Kaz's hug lingers a little too long...