From: dgm5@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Douglas G Moody)
Subject: Re: C-3PO and the Princess
Reply-To: dgm5@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Douglas G Moody)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 06:37:51 GMT

A lot of people have been speculating on the inconsistencies between what 
C3-PO tells Luke, and what he seems to **really** know.  Well, the radio 
series answers this pretty neatly.  I don't want to get involved in a canon
war here, and I suppose it could be argued that the radio series came 
along much later than the movie, so it goes out of its way to cover 
inconsistencies like this.  Still, **I** like the explanation offered, which
is that the droids were deliberatly programmed to lie.  Obviously, they
didn't know that Luke was the future savior of the Galaxy, so they were
deliberatly evasive.  The relevant scene occurs in episode 3 of the radio 
series, and here is a transcript:

Captain Antilles: Princess Leia, may I say once more that I am opposed to this
plan of yours.

Leia:  If you must, Antilles.

Antilles:  The moment we leave hyperspce, and emerge in that restricted solar
system, we'll be in serious trouble.  Diplomatic immunity or no, we'lll be 
subject to boarding and arrest if we're caught by the Imperial Starfleet.

Leia:  Antilles, we either act now or lose any chance the rebel alliance has to
stop the Empire.  There is no time for caution.
 
[The droids enter]

Antilles:  Ah, I believe our droids are here.

C3-PO:  [To R2] Oh be quiet.  [To Antilles]  Captain Antilles, may it please 
you sir, I have the honor of reporting for duty.  C3-PO, human relations
droid.  [R2 beeps in irritation]  Oh yes, and my... my subordinate.  R2-D2.

Antilles:  3PO?  You were in protocol, weren't you?  What are you doing with
a maintenence droid for a counterpart?

3PO:  There turned out to be little need for interpreters on this trip, 
Captain.  I might put in parenthetically sir...

Antilles:  Fine, fine 3PO.  But we don't have time for that right now.

3PO: Oh!

Antilles:  Bring your counterpart over here by the emergency airlock.

3PO:  Come on, R2.

Antilles:  Now I want you both to listen to this programming tape.  [s/fx of
tape player turning on.  What sounds like random electronic noise comes out.]
This is voice override, actuating code Epsilon Actual. [tape s/fx off.]

3PO:  We confirm that sir, we are both awaiting your instructions.

Antilles:  You are aware of the idenity of the person next to me?

3PO:  Certainly, sir.  She is the Princess Leia Organa of Aldaeraan.  
Representative of the Imperial Senate.

Antilles:  This is a command control instruction.  Both of you will restrict
and protect all references to Leia Organa's identity and presence inboard
this vessel.  She is designated a command control voice.

3PO:  Yes sir.

Leia:  Will that suffice?

Antilles:  Your highness, this interpreter droid is a bit eccentric.  But he's 
dependable.

Leia:  Will they resist interrogation probing?

Antilles:  They'll do whatever you tell them to without fail.  That includes
lying and self-destructing.  


That's it!  By the way, I don't have the ESB radio series, but I would love
to get my hands on it.  If you have it, I'm willing to give you a copy of the
SW radio series in exchange.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Doug Moody (dgm5@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu) 
    "Be a good kid and dust the atomic reactor.  And test all the buttons"
                                                  - Plucky Duck
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------