From: un032221@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Subject: Re: Piett
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:28:14 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

In article <1992Oct27.043857.4386@ll.mit.edu>, shoham@ll.mit.edu (Daniel Shoham) writes:
> In article <1992Oct26.023050.26381@sserve.cc.adfa.oz.au> broaj2@cspyr1.cs.adfa.oz.au (BROWN ADRIAN) writes: 
> I am still not happy with the rationale for Admiral Weasel (sp?) fate. The
> rebel became alert to the Impies when they found the probe-droid, not when
> Weasel jumped too close to Hoth (And, presumably, the Empire was aware that
> the Probe-Droid was destroyed and the most likely reason). Farthermore, I
> have a hard time seeing how leaving Hyperspace farther from Hoth (and then,
> presumably, approaching Hoth at sub-light speed) would give the rebel *less*
> warning time. (Any theories? say a cloacking device that can be activated
> only *after* emerging from Hyperspace. The proper strategy would then be to
> 1. emerge from hyperspace outside the range of rebel sensors, 2. cloack, 3.
> approach the system at sub-light speed, 4. bomb the power generator that would
> otherwise power the shield. - Nah, too complicated :-( ).
> 
	As to the cloaking issue, Zahn's books (for those of us who appreciate
them) in them, Ackbar explains all about the disadvantages of cloaking systems.
As to their prevalence in the trilogy movies, I think the Imperials didn't have
them, or they would have done a much better job messing with the Rebellion.  
	Perhaps gutsy smugglers (as someone mentioned earlier) used them when
they had no other choice to avoid being caught, but I am pretty sure that if
the Imperials had them, they would have used them more.  As far as procedure,
perhaps they would have come out of Ltspeed out of sensor range, and sent some 
small, sort of flying bomb kamikaze things to take out the generators from long
range.  Heck, maybe they have super smart bombs, and can bomb something from
out of the system!!!

> Also, why wasn't Hoth bombed AFTER the generator was taken out? If the answer
> is to avoid killing Luke, then why was bombing contemplated from the begining?
> 
	I don't htink Luke had anything to do with it.  Look at it this way. 
They were apprently planning on bombing the generator the whole time, and maybe
the base itself.  When they came out to close, they had to fight their way in
to get the generator, and then, by that time, the Rebels were already nearly
set to escape.  Combine this with the idea that their troops were still close
to the base (presumably close enough to be messed up by a
Space-to-Surface-bomb.  Then they have to wait for their troops to clear, and
by that time the Rebels are outta there.  So, instead they attack with
conventional troops, instead of SSBs.  The Luke thing probably never crossed
Vader's mind.  Remember, if the Rebel Alliance bites it, Luke isn't important
to the Imperials.

> {I think Vader never intended to bomb Hoth (he didn't want to kill Luke) but
> set poor Weasel up for the blame (as part of Vader's treachery against the
> Emperor) }
> 
	See above for comments.
>>
>>By the way, has anyone any theories on how Vader KNEW, as soon as he saw the
>>probes report on Hoth, that it was where the rebel base was situated?
>>
>>Vader: "That is the planet, Admiral, I want you to set a course immediately!"
>>
>>Admiral: "But Lord Vader ..."
>>
>>Another case of using the force to detect Luke at long distances?
> 
> The conviction with which Vader spoke leaves little doubt that the Force was
> at work here.
> 
> Dan Shoham
> shoham@ll.mit.edu

	I disagree.  I think Vader was just being overly eager.  He was looking
past the facts, and just desperate to get a kill.  when he saw a generator big
enough to power a Rebel base, I think he made a tactical error, and jumped at
it, especially since the probe was destroyed shortly thereafter.  I don't think
the insight was to Vader's credit, it was just his being overly eager.