The film follows a group of Rebel spies who undertake a mission to steal the Death Star plans, the blueprints for the Empire’s superweapon capable of destroying entire planets. The main protagonist is Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), whose father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) was forced to work on the Death Star project.
In the climax, the Rebel group successfully infiltrates the Imperial facility on the planet Scarif, where the Death Star plans are stored. They face intense battles against Imperial forces and encounter various challenges to secure the data. During the mission, several members of the Rogue One team sacrifice themselves, including Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen), Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), and Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed).
Jyn and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), another Rebel operative, manage to transmit the Death Star plans to the Rebel fleet just before the Imperial forces overwhelm them. The plans are then passed to Princess Leia Organa’s ship, Tantive IV.
In a poignant moment, the Death Star, still in the testing phase, arrives in orbit above Scarif to quell the Rebel uprising. Grand Moff Tarkin (CGI-recreated Peter Cushing) orders the firing of the Death Star’s superlaser on the Imperial facility to eliminate any evidence of the security breach.
As the Rebel fleet jumps to lightspeed with the stolen Death Star plans, the film seamlessly connects to the opening scenes of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” depicting Princess Leia’s ship being pursued by the Imperial Star Destroyer.
The sacrifice of the Rogue One team ensures the Rebellion’s possession of the Death Star plans, ultimately leading to the Rebel Alliance’s successful efforts to destroy the Death Star in “A New Hope.” The film ends with a sense of hope and the acknowledgment of the brave individuals who gave everything for the greater cause of the Rebellion.