What was Darth Vader thinking?

In ANH, Vader and Tarkin are in the conference room when someone informs them that the Death Star has just brought aboard the "same ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley." I believe then Vader responds, "They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the Princess. She may yet be of some use to us."

What is Vader talking about here? Why would anyone try to return the plans to a person who is being held in maximum security detention in the middle of a huge, armored battle station? It doesn't make sense! Even if non-Rebels found the plans, I think they would try to sell them to whatever Rebel contact they could find, not seek out the Princess, especially not on the Death Star.

Any ideas? A New Hope is my favorite Star Wars movie, but this is one of those things that has always bugged me about it.

 

Because he probably believed that they were unaware that the Princess had been captured. So their orders were to go to Alderaan where they were to deliver the plans to either Bail Organa or Princess Leia, both of whom were incapicated and even dead in one instance.

 

What he said... they were travelling to Alderaan, not the Death Star.

As to her being some further use, I would think that he probably meant they could use her to set a trap of some sort later on.

 

Yeah, he was basically saying that's probably why they were in the Alderaan system to begin, because they may have been trying to return the plans.

 

Thanks, it makes a lot more sense now! This is what comes from seeing the movie 500 times...sometimes my assumptions about what is being said and shown can be way off-base, especially since I first saw it when I was a kid. Thanks again for the help in deciphering Vader's (until now) cryptic remark.

 

Yeah,I agree.Luke and Han had no idea Leia was captured.Because Luke says "The princess! She's here?!"

 

Obviously, he wasn't.

 

hehe a few nights ago i was wondering about the exact same thing. Then i finally decided on what Errant said.