The threat is averted, but at a cost. R2-D2 seals the air lock, and D-Squad pauses for a few words of respect and remembrance for M5-BZ said by Colonel Gascon.

In the Jedi cruiser bridge, the super tactical droid takes the lack of updates from the buzz droids as an indication that they have failed. He tasks the droids under his command to capture these intruders at all costs.

Gascon and D-Squad have come up with a plan. R2-D2 will return to the hangar control station to rewire the explosives to detonate early. Then the squad and the survivor droids will evacuate aboard the shuttle. As R2-D2 heads off, the rest of the droids are attacked by a patrol of battle droids.

The cruiser emerges from hyperspace and begins to vector towards space station Valor, which floats amid a fleet of docked Republic cruisers. The super tactical droid orders the ship to accelerate to ramming speed while he personally oversees the activation of the detonator.

Aboard space station Valor, Anakin Skywalker squirms with boredom, frustrated at having to attend a strategy conference. Obi-Wan chides him for his impatience. The session can begin soon with the arrival of the last cruiser, but Anakin senses something odd about the late vessel -- it's moving way too fast.

D-Squad scrambles towards their escape shuttle. Gascon and U9-C4 distract the battle droids by zipping around on the astromech's booster rockets, and the battle droids hold their fire for fear of accidentally hitting the Rhydonium canisters.

R2-D2 arrives at the hangar control station just as the super tactical droid initiates the detonation sequence. The taller droid grapples with R2-D2, who jukes and bobs on his rockets. Gascon tries to delay the shuttle launch to buy R2-D2 more time.

Aboard the station, Admiral Tarkin gives voice to Anakin's suspicions -- the late cruiser has not slowed its pace, and Z9, Tarkin's astromech droid, cannot make contact with anyone aboard.

Though Gascon does not want to leave R2-D2 behind, WAC-47 powers up the shuttle and departs the hangar bay. R2-D2 outmaneuvers the super tactical droid and speeds up the detonator. The cruiser erupts in a rapid chain of enormous explosions. The cruiser is reduced to shreds of twisted metal that pelts the space station.

From the blast emerges the shuttle, and Colonel Gascon hurriedly reports on mission status. He informs Anakin of R2-D2's sacrifice. Anakin orders an immediate salvage operation. Republic space tugs scour the wreckage, eventually finding a battered R2 unit.

R2-D2 is repaired and reunited with Anakin and D-Squad. Gascon declares Artoo the greatest, most courageous droid he has ever met. He is proud to serve alongside D-Squad -- which is good news, since WAC-47 confirms they have been made a permanent unit in the Republic war against the Separatists.