From: trogers@watson.ibm.com
Subject: Re: Meaningless dialogue
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 13:28:57 GMT
News-Software: IBM OS/2 PM RN (NR/2) v0.16 by O. Vishnepolsky and R. Rogers
Reply-To: trogers@yktvmv.vnet.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In <1992Dec29.012211.7701@ll.mit.edu> shoham@ll.mit.edu (Daniel Shoham) writes:
>In article <1992Dec26.152050.1@camins.camosun.bc.ca> comptec92023@camins.camosun.bc.ca writes:
>>Meaningless dialogue
>>ANH C-3PO  "...the dammage doesn't look as bad from out
>>             here."
>> Can anyone explain the significance of this useless statement???
>
>"That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here."
>
>I think this line ties in with another mysterious C3PO statement a short time
>earlier: "Did you hear that? They've shut down the main reactor. We'll be
>destroyed for sure. This is madness!".
>
>One might ask, why was the main reactor shut down? Well, it wasn't madness :-),
>the Blockade Runner decided to avoid destruction by (apearing to) surrender.
>A very sensible thing to do when you have the Rebel's sole copy of the DS plan.
>Furthermore, the rebels hoped that diplomatic immunity and fear of senatorial
>action will moderate whatever the Empire had in mind for them. After all, only
>DV is so bold as to ignore both factors (according to Leia). It was the
>rebel's bad luck that exactly DV was on the attacking SD.
>
>C3PO, not privy to such delicate command decisions is mystified at the decision
>to shut down the main reactor. Thinking that the BR was too damaged in battle
>to offer resistance, C3PO was again surprised to find that it has surrendered
>(nearly) intact.
>
>- This is NOT a highly speculative interpertation (unlike most of my posts :]).
>The only way one can explain the decision to shut down the main reactor, is as
>a decision to (appear to) surrender. (This brings up the evil of DV who ignore
>diplomatic norms). C3PO surprise at the low level of damage only reinforces
>the point that the BR choose not to fight to the end.
>
>-- On another level, C3PO may actually be viewed in a favorable light in this
>incident (uncharacteristic, but not unique). While the rebels hoped diplomatic
>norms would protect them, the simple minded C3PO actually had the Imperial
>intentions figured out in his "black and white" understanding of things.
>
>
>- What do you guys think?
>
>
>Dan Shoham               shoham@ll.mit.edu
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>The view presented are not necessarily those of my employer, etc.
>
>Massachusetts Institute of Technology
>Lincoln Laboratory
>244 Wood Street
>Lexington Massachusetts, 02173-9108
>Office B-373
>617-981-3515
>------------------------------------------------------------------------


Or, it's possible that some sort of control mechanism for the main reactor
was damaged in the battle forcing the BR to shut down the main reactor to
avoid an explosion.  The BR did take quite a few hits.  A SD is supposed to
be pretty good at targeting.  It should be able to penetrate the shields of
the BR with a couple of shots, then target the control mechanism for the
main reactor and disable it.  The net-effect would be a ship running on
impulse power.  The SD could then easily catch it, put it in a tractor
beam and suck it up.  

Remember, the ship is a Blockade Runner.  We have to assume it is fast.
The SD (Vader) wanted to keep the BR and its contents intact just as
much as the Rebels did (I assume).  

C-3P0's comments make sense too.  "Oh my, they've shut down the main
reactor.  We're doomed!  They'll be no escape for the Princess this
time."

Side-bar your honor:  C-3P0 can use contractions, and is thus technically
superior to Lt. Cmdr Data of STNG.  Also, C-3P0 is a liar, because he
knows the princess and tells Luke that he doesn't.  ("Who is she",
"I don't know.  A passenger on our last voyage, I think  Someone of
importance").

We now continue with our regularly scheduled post:  C-3P0 realizes that
the cannot outrun (the main defensive capability of a blockade runner)
their enemy with the main reactor shut down.

As for, "The damage doesn't look as bad from out here".  One would assume
that if captured, the ship had to have surrendered or been overtaken by
force.  Either way, the ship should be in shambles.  Due to the expert
targeting by the SD, few shots were needed to disable the BR.

Your story sounds good.  I just assume that mine is possible too?

Regards,
Tom Rogers
roy@trigger.watson.ibm.com
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