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Tantive IV's Journey to Tattooine

Discussion in 'Original Trilogy' started by CTrent29, Feb 22, 2017.

  1. CTrent29

    CTrent29 Rebel Official

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    I realized that Bail Organa had wanted Leia to contact Obi-Wan Kenobi about joining the Rebel Alliance. But was it really necessary for her to journey to Tattooine first, while she had the Death Star plans? Wouldn't it have been more logical to think about getting the Death Star plans to Yavin IV first, before contacting Obi-Wan?

    Now, I also realize that if the Tantive IV had not headed for Tattooine, Luke, Obi-Wan, Han and Chewbacca would not have been drawn into the rebellion. But how would Leia know?
     
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  2. Stormagadon

    Stormagadon Cantina Court Jester
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    Considering time was of the essence, I think so. Also, what if Obi-Wan was feeling reluctant to come? Having the plans to the most dangerous weapon in the universe would certainly be incentive for old Ben to join the fight.
     
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  3. CTrent29

    CTrent29 Rebel Official

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    Wouldn't it be more logical for Leia to get the plans to Yavin before considering whether Obi-Wan would be willing to join the Rebel Alliance or not?
     
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  4. daRinze

    daRinze Force Sensitive

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    Interesting. If I understand you, you propose the following route to the Tantive: first Scariff -> Yavin to save the plans, then Yavin -> Tattooine to meet Obiwan.
    This would actually be logical, but it represents a big risk : if theTantive is pursued [and we know it is], it will locate the rebel base on Yavin 4. This option has probably been planned and taken into account. Consequently, perhaps the goal was : if the Tantive is pursued by the Imperials, take them far from Yavin...
    As I cogitate while writing, I think in second thought that there is also the fact that, officially, Leia is intended to be part of a diplomatic mission ; officially, she is not related to the Rebellion, so, officially, she must stay away from the rebels. She's not intended to know the rebels base location. Even Bail Organa himself is not intended to be related to the Rebel Alliance, because of his position in the Galatic Senate. Don't forget the promise he made to Obiwan and Yoda, to play a double game: in appearance, serve the Empire, but in fact, secretly work for the Rebellion with Mon Mothma
    my2cents


    I think this is the reason why Leia was sent in person to visit Obi Wan.
    Bail did not forgot that Obi Wan knows who is Leai, what she represents in terms of past (Anakin's daughter) and future (the two last jedi they are, as said Yoda just after Polis Massa events).
    Leia is the best card of the rebelliion, via Bail, to contact and convince the old Jedi to join them.
     
    #4 daRinze, Mar 1, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2017
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  5. CTrent29

    CTrent29 Rebel Official

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    But the Empire managed to locate the main Rebel base on Yavin 4 anyway.




    That was more important than getting the Death Star plans to the Rebels on Yavin 4?
     
  6. Darth Malkovich

    Darth Malkovich Rebel General

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    Do we know they went straight there? Maybe they were going to head to Yavin and jumped to Tatooine when they realised the Empire was on their tail. I forget if they mentioned going straight to Tatooine or not at the end of R1 - but if the Empire followed them to Yavin it would have been game over.
     
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  7. CTrent29

    CTrent29 Rebel Official

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    I don't think we really know what would have happened, considering that Leia had the Death Star plans in her possession. Perhaps the Rebellion would have perished. Or . . . they would have found another way to destroy the Death Star, without Luke and Han. I guess we just don't know.
     
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  8. StarWarsJunk

    StarWarsJunk Rebel Trooper

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    but she was running for Vader, she knew she didnt have time to drop plans off. She had to get to Obi-wan in hopes he could her her bring in the plans
     
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  9. Daft Ada

    Daft Ada Rebelscum

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    Who told Leia to go to Obi-wan on Tatooine? Bail Organa. Who else did Bail know was on Tatooine? Luke Skywalker. So there's your answer: Bail knew that not only was one of the last Jedi living there, he also knew that Anakin's son was there, to be hidden "until the time is right". Clearly Bail felt that the time was right.
     
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  10. daRinze

    daRinze Force Sensitive

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    What still bothers me, is having that Tantive docked inside the Profundity. That sounds so awkward... or more likely: I don't understand that.

    OFFICIALLY: Leia is a diplomatic. She is not part of the Rebel Alliance. She is a royalty, daughter and heir of an Alderaan's Royal family. His father is a Senator...
    ... how the hell does she find herself inside a ship, itself docked inside another ship, that itself is occupying a central place in one of the biggest and most important battle of the Rebellion? That doesn't match for me!
    Formerly, we've heard Bail on Yavin 4 telling Mon Mothma he was about to send Leia request help from Obiwan. How the hell Leia can be over the battle of Scariff, rather than quietly travelling to Tattooine to fulfill his mission?
    UNOFFICIALLY: Leia is an important part of the Rebellion. What the hell is she waiting inside a ship itself inside another ship? What is she used for? As a leader, she had to be alonside Raddux, and not recluse in the Tantive lost in the bottom of the Profundity!

    Well. Whatever the way, I think Leia's and the Tantive presence over Scarif breaks everything. They rather might have been roaming around, on their way to Tatooine - since we know that Scariff and Tatooine are not far away one from the other. And when Vader aboards the Profundity and commits his massacre (amagad, what a scene!!!!!!!!!!), in a last attempt, Raddux beams the plans to the Tantive.

    Well this is just my 2 cents - no more.
     
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  11. Finn_McCool

    Finn_McCool Jedi Commander

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    That is a good question. I guess Bail told her ob1 was on tatts. I guess it was on the way to alderaan. I always assumed Leia knew ob1 was there, since they were being boarded, she dropped r2 off with a message. If they weren't being boarded they would have just gone straight to Alderaan.
     
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  12. Lt. Hija

    Lt. Hija Rebel Official

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    I'll add mine and we do have already 4 cents. I wholeheartedly agree, add to this that unlike the other ships that went to hyperspace ASAP, Leia supposedly waited for the Death Star plans to be hand-delivered (either they had the plans or they did not, there was no reason to extend their stay after the airlock had closed).

    The simplest explanation is probably that the ship docked inside Raddus' Profundity was the Tantive VI (pesky Roman numerals, they are confusing) with Leia's Tantive IV arriving a bit later outside the battlezone as a fail-safe measure and option (so that the Tantive VI could re-transmit the plans they had received before that ship was destroyed by the Star Destroyer Vader arrived with, and the Tantive VI communications officer probably made the mistake of asking the "Tantive IV" whether they had received the plans).

    According to the 1977 Lucas Notes Alderaan was the "brain" or center of intelligence for the Alliance, so it made sense to have the Death Star plans brought there first for examination.
    It seems that after the destruction of Alderaan Yavin IV was the second best option to have the plans analyzed.

    Add to this that by allowing the Death Star to track the Falcon, the Alliance would have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter the Death Star.

    Had the plans been analyzed on Alderaan, one may wonder how the Alliance would have learned where to encounter the Death Star to "exploit" its weakness. Once they would have found the weakness they would have probably been forced to somehow let the Empire know where to find the Rebel base to make it come there.
     
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  13. CTrent29

    CTrent29 Rebel Official

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    I really find it difficult to accept this answer. I don't recall Leia instructing Obi-Wan, in her message, to contact Luke as well. Unless this was some plot revision in a fan version.
     
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  14. Get In Gear

    Get In Gear Force Sensitive

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    The way it panned out in the old Radio Drama version of events was that the Tantive had to fly into a restricted area to receive the transmission containing the plans. They then jumped straight to Tatooine to pick up Ben and were surprised that the Empire was able to follow them through hyperspace.
    I know Rogue One has changed all of that backstory, but the same logic applies. They are not really adding any risk by travelling to Tatooine, an outer rim planet of no interest to the Empire whatsoever. They are either followed or they are not. Wherever they jump to - Alderaan, Tatooine, Yavin IV - the outcome is, essentially, the same.

    Of course, we have the privilege of hindsight - bringing Ben into play actually proved very effective in getting the plans delivered to Alderaan. They only problem was Alderaan wasn't there when they arrived.
    You could also argue that Ben, inadvertently, delivered the Death Star plans right back into the Empire's hands. The fact that our heroes ended up rescuing the princess and delivering the plans to Yavin IV doesn't cancel out that fact. Again it is all relative to a hindsight the characters themselves do not have.
    It doesn't matter, all that matters is the point of view of the characters in the story. The Rebels have gone from being an underground operation to blowing their cover and winning their first victory over the Empire. In the context of A New Hope, by receiving the transmission, Leia and Bail have blown their diplomatic cover story. The Empire is guaranteed to catch up with them sooner or later and/or turn their attentions to Alderaan, whichever happens first. It's now or never really - if they don't call Ben in as soon as they get those plans, they may never get the opportunity again. They clearly think it is equally important to have Kenobi and the plans, it's not really a case of one or the other. From Bail's POV, having the plans means it is time for Kenobi to join the fight. Having Kenobi means the plans have the best protection they could possibly have.

    Another thing to consider is that Ben was only killed off in the Fourth Draft - prior to that he (or his equivalent mentor figures in the earlier drafts) was involved to the end and lived (presumably) to play a more active role in any potential sequels.
    As a result, the importance of finding "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in the first act does seem a little unresolved when dies before the final battle. I mean, it makes perfect sense in the wider context of the saga, but there is that feeling at the back of your mind where the Rebels were desperate to get his help to fight the Empire, and he ends up, basically, just turning a tractor beam off. I guess his importance at the start is also kind of a hangover from when he had a more active role...
     
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  15. Meister Yoda

    Meister Yoda Your Little Green Friend
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    My understanding has always been that Leia couldn't contact the rebels directly, because she and her dad were senators for alderan, so she needed Obiwan to bring the plans to the rebellion.
     
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  16. Grand Master Galen Marek

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    It was a quick trip from Rogue One to the OT.
     
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  17. Lt. Hija

    Lt. Hija Rebel Official

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    Actually, I'm not certain they were followed and feel compelled to offer an alternative explanation: The context in ANH is crystal clear, IMHO, i.e. Vader knows that the Death Star plans have been transmitted to the Tantive IV, but unless he has proof that they did receive it and failed to inform the authorities he will have to answer for attacking a diplomatic vessel.

    So it still rather seems to me, that somehow he knew that the plans had been transmitted to the Tantive IV and that he knew where to find that particular vessel. Either all ships had to make flight plans or Mos Eisley spaceport control merely registered the Tantive IV once it entered the Tatooine System, so all Vader had to do was to hyperjump there.
     
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  18. Dr Jerrone

    Dr Jerrone Rebel Commander

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    Heck no, why would Bail tell Leia about Luke? Her job was to get in contact with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's mission was to keep an eye on Luke so no need to even mention him to Leia. Obi-Wan would do what is right for the situation at hand.
     
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  19. cawatrooper

    cawatrooper Dungeon Master

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    I guess you could also consider the fact that they just saw Vader clean house in the hallway on the Profundity. Having a Jedi who could theoretically counter him would be an incredible asset, rather than simply leading Vader to the Alliance base.
     
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  20. CTrent29

    CTrent29 Rebel Official

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    The only person who was truly interested in contacting Obi-Wan was Bail Organa. And the only person who knew other than Leia was Mon Mothma. I don't recall the rest of the Rebel Alliance being aware of any plan to contact Obi-Wan. Looking at the story from a point of view between the Battle of Scarif and Vader's capture of Leia, I still don't see the logic in Leia making the effort to contact Obi-Wan before she had the chance to deliver the Death Star plans to the Rebel Alliance. To me, that is illogical and stupid. Delivering the Death Star plans should have been the number one priority over making any contact with Obi-Wan. I could see her simply taking the opportunity to deliver the plans to Obi-Wan via the droids, when she found herself captured over Tattoine. But that she would make a concerted effort to contact Obi-Wan when her first priority should have been delivering the Death Star plans? That makes no sense to me.
     
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