STAR WARS

Tarkin orders death

Here we come to the true crime committed in this story:
The destruction of Alderaan.
It is ordered by the true villain of the movie.
Tarkin.
Tarkin is in charge of the Death Star.
Within minutes of it becoming operational, he orders the destruction of a world.
Tarkin is a madman run amok.
Vader is the only one who can stop him.

During this scene, Vader says absolutely nothing.
Having already expressed his disapproval of this battle station, he is silent and somber.
This operation is entirely out of Vader's hands.
Tarkin is a genocidal war criminal, Hitlerian in his methods and his over-confidence.
His later demise aboard this doomsday weapon should be celebrated.

The Princess is not in any danger from Darth Vader, it's Tarkin she has to worry about.
In fact, she flinches away from Tarkin and backs up against Vader for protection.
When Tarkin learns the Princess decieved him, he orders her immediate death (he also states that it was he who signed the order for her termination).
Vader, on the other hand, uses the capture of the Millenium Falcon as an excuse to spare her life.
You didn't forget again that they belong to the same royal family, did you?
(I only ask because it seems like we all forget this - a lot)

Culturally, Vader has become attached to the Death Star and the crime of its use is often attributed to him.
The story makes it quite clear that Vader has no active role with the Death Star.
Not nearly as ruthless as is suggested, Vader holds onto Leia's shoulder, steadying his daughter.
Both Vader and Leia are Tarkin's prisoner at this point.
Nothing can be done to stop Tarkin at this point, if the tenuous plan to destroy the Death Star is to be brought off

This is a horrifyingly powerful weapon.
When the beams touch Alderaan, the planet explodes almost immediately.
No heat up, no melting, just instantaneous explosion.
Holy shit!