Alderaan-- defenseless?

Princess Leia tells Vader and Tarkin that Alderaan had no weapons of any kind. However, the novel {page 129-130} states otherwise:

"The defense systems on Alderaan, despite the Senator's protestations to the contrary, were as strong as any in the Empire. I should think that our demonstration was as impressive as it was thorough."

Also, it should be noted that, as Michael Wong pointed out on his site, it appears that Alderaan had some sort of planetary shield that stopped the Death Star's blast for a tiny fraction of a second; which would actually require an inconcievably powerful shield.

So what's up? Is Alderaan actually secretly a part of the Rebel Alliance? Did Leia know about the defenses?

 

They certainly seemed defenseless.

Scene: Alderaanian Space Traffic Control Center--nighttime

STC 1: Sir, a battle station the size of small moon just exited hyperspace and is holding position at about 20,000 klicks out.

STC 2: What's it doing?

STC 1: Shooting at us, Sir.

STC 2: Alert the planetary def.....[static]....

 

I always figured that Alderaan might of been something like Naboo. They might of had a small security force but no huge army. So that might of been what Leia meant by saying their defenseless.

Even if they had some kinda sheild you'd think the people who made the Death Star would of made sure the laser could shoot through any kinda of planetary sheild.

 

Oh, the superlaser did penetrate the shield fairly easily {and took only a fraction of a second to do so}, but you can still see that there appears to be a shield on-screen. For example, there's a small "bubble" effect around the section of the planet the laser strikes that is remarkably similar to what we see when ordinary lasers strike the shields of capital ships.

 

Alderaan does have defenses. They just aren't very good defenses.

 

I never believed Alderaan had defenses. Leia wouldn't lie about that.

 

i think that leia would say anything to stop the planet from getting blown up...i mean i would

leia is smart...it is just that it did not work..

but alderaan wouldn't have lasted long even it did have good defences

 

Alderaan was the core of the Rebel Alliance. That's part of the reason why Tarkin chose it as a target. He knew that Bail Organa was a major leader in the Rebellion.

 

Alderaan probably only had a small defense force(think Naboo) and a weak planetary defense shield.

 

Of course Alderaan had defenses. Organa (both) were major players in the Rebellion. They prolly had weapon stockpiles there. Maybe a Rebel Boot Camp was operating planetside.

Another reason why I think Alderaan wasn't defenseless:

Leia was as bad a liar as Obi-Wan for the first half of ANH. First, she lied about the being on a relief mission. Second, she lied about knowing about the plans for the Death Star (or even knowing what they were). Third, she lied about the location of the secret Rebel base (Dantooine. They're on Dantooine.). Give me one good reason why Grand Moff Tarkin, Darth Vader, and the Admiralty (or us) should believe her about Alderaan being so defenseless.

 

Alderaan had major defences, but it was mostly hidden. From what I can remember reading, the Rebel Alliance even operated out of Alderaan to a certain degree.

 

Alderaan's defenses or lack thereof are discussed somewhat in the ROTS novel. I can't post them in here. PM me if you want em.

 

I doubt it even matters if Alderaan was defended or not, because no defence can stand against the Death Star I think. They probably had a small security force like Naboo but nothing like an army or so.

 

LowRyder is right. Despite what ever security Alderaan had, there is no way it could have done anything to stop from being destroyed. It was destiny.

 

Despite what ever security Alderaan had, there is no way it could have done anything to stop from being destroyed.

Against a Death Star, or even a fleet of Imperial cruisers? No way in hell could it stand up for itself. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't defended to a large degree.

 

No defenses doesnt mean they can't have a shield. Alderaan was a planet of pacifists, not idiots Any planet wealthy enough to have a shield would have one. Especially if they were demilitarized as they were. They were likely similar to Naboo as was said before. Though even the police force might not have openly carried any arms.

A.C Crispins Han Solo trilogy has a good scene on Alderaan depicting its security forces. Or lack there of I guess.

 

Alderaan-- defenseless?

Correct, your intuition serves you well. You are one step closer to a larger universe.

 

As far as, "we have no weapons" goes, well, obviously the Tantive IV has guns. Or maybe that was their only ship, and of course it's gone by the time Leia is talking to Tarkin.

As for Leia being a bad lier, also notice how she tried a fake Coruscant accent on Tarkin, even though Vader was right there and had already heard the way she really talks.

 

I highly doubt it was defenseless. What where they going to do against the Death Star? First of all, it came out of nowhere, they werent expecting it so their defenses werent ready, second, even if they were ready they wouldnt even put a dent in the Death Star. So it wouldnt have mattered, either way Alderaan was doomed.