Did Tarkin get Palpatine's permission to use Death Star on Alderaan?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but in the thread asking why didn't Luke feel the destruction of Alderaan, some posters were wondering how Palpy reacted to the planet's demise. So I wondered if he was alerted by Tarkin. Now, I know we don't see the Emperor on-screen in ANH, but I was curious to see if Tarkin got permission?

To me, Tarkin would seem like more of a Bad-A** if he didn't. Imagine the Emperor feeling all their deaths out of nowhere. Also, would the Emperor be mad that he didn't get to order Alderaan's destruction?

PALPATINE: "Take that, Organas!"

 

Death Star has Tarkin stating that the Emperor gave him full rein to utilize the destrutive power of the Death Star in any way he saw fit. Before Death Star's publication, I was under the impression that Tarkin was given "implied" permission regarding Alderaan's destruction.

 

It makes me wonder how the Emperor would deal with Tarkin if he hadn't asked.

PALPATINE: Do you know about the rule where you have to wash the Death Star if you
use it without asking?

TARKIN: Uh, no....

PALPATINE: Well, now you do.

 

It appears he was given permission to use it any way he saw fit, espcecially after the remnants of the Old republic were swept away. What is to keep Tarkin under control? What if Alderaan being blown to bits was not something the Emperor wanted? Well, that's what Vader is there for.

Of course, it's not like Tarkin is without comms. He had all the time in the world to call and get authorization, or Vader did. It may be one of those things we don't see but can safely assume takes place, like using the fresher.

 

Vader was there. If Tarkin was operating without the Emperor's authorization, Vader probably would have done something.

 

I don't think he had permission to destroy Alderaan specifically... but he did had blanket permission to use it on any planet necessary, and that naturally includes Alderaan.

One has to wonder, though, what Palpatine would have thought/done had Tarkin showed up with the Death Star at Coruscant and wiped it out

 

I dont think the Emporer would have been thrilled. From his point of view, it was his galaxy. In a galaxy with maybe a billion planets, but only about 20,000 with intelligent life, why blow up the good ones ? Its like cutting off your nose to spite your face, heh.
For a demonstration, as Tarkin called it, a dead planet would have sufficed. He also created a new hazard to space navigation.
Also, wouldnt something like the Death Star have some power control, enough to kill the beings on it, but leaving the infra-structure intact ? Then it could have been used for a large clone hatchery/training area, among other things.

 

Palpatine: "Hello?"
Tarkin: "Hey Palpatine, it's me, Tarkin."
Palpatine: "Oh, uh... hi Tarkin... it's 3 in the morning, why are you calling me now?"
Tarkin: "Well, I need a big promotion... and a raise."
Palpatine: "Have you lost your mind?! I'll tell you what I'll do instead, you little -"
Tarkin: "Look up in the sky from your north-facing window."
Palpatine: "Oh ****."

 

A not-quite-dead planet (Despayre in the EU) sufficed for a test to see if the damn thing actually worked.
For an effective demonstration, ie to show the galaxy that they have the ultimate technological terror, they needed something people would notice.
Though then you're right that it didn't have to be Alderaan - their equivalent to our Mars would have sufficed. But apparently Tarkin doesn't believe in warning shots

 

The radio drama includes a scene with Motti encouraging Tarkin to do something along those lines - at least to threaten it, anyway.

 

There are some problems with Tarkin potentially attempting to blow up Coruscant, and by extension, Palpatine:

1. Do you really think Vader was gonna let that happen? He was on the Death Star, and if Coruscant/Palpatine were threatened, Vader would have immediately killed Tarkin, and then probably taken the Death Star himself and blown up Tarkin's homeworld, Eriadu, as a lesson to any other potential traitors. Tarkin would have to have known that Vader wasn't just there as an observer, and that Vader had the power to kill him at will...

2. Assuming Vader doesn't kill Tarkin, how do we know that Palpatine's control over dark side wouldn't have been enough for him to simply kill Tarkin using the Force as soon as the Death Star entered the system? We know that Force users can do so from a distance, we see Vader choke someone out over a viewscreen in an entirely different Star Destroyer.

3. It is entirely likely that in addition to having Vader there, in addition to his own powers, that Palpatine would have done what anyone giving a subordinate the means to kill them would do...get leverage over them to stop them from getting any crazy ideas. Move Tarkin's family to Coruscant, give him incentive to not turn traitor.

Basically, I don't believe for one second that Palpatine would be stupid enough to not have any contingency plans, you know? Palpatine would have put safeguards in place to prevent Tarkin from going solo.

 

They wanted to demonstrate two things: that the Death Star worked, and that they were willing to use it against populated planets.

Vader and Ozzel were actually both on the same Star Destroyer (the Executor).

Anyway, your points are valid; Palpatine would of course have safeguards in place against something like this... I think this idea mostly came up as a joke.

 

Actually, yes. Vader wanted to kill Palps from the beginning, and what better way to do it than with a superlaser....

Personally I'm not a believer in an all-powerful Palpatine. Evil as he may be, I think he relies a huge extent on the willing cooperation of his minions and lieutenants (Vader, Dooku, Tarkin) to carry out his agenda. When you serve Darth Sidious, you're not helping him in a small insignificant way....you're literally paving the way for him to take power. If Palpatine isn't all-powerful, then Zaarin's plot could've succeeded, and a Death-Star-to-Coruscant would've worked fine.

 

Tarkin states that the regional governors have direct authority over their
territories now that the senate has been dissolved. If he wants to destroy
Alderaan to crush the rebellion, I doubt the Emperor would micro-manage his
way into that decision. There's no need, or reason to.

 

Let's see, permission to use Death Star on Alderaan. Uh, I think that would be Imperial Naval Form R5804, Planetary Genocide Authorization Form. Remember: it has to be notarized or it'll get sent right back to you.

 

Can we please stick to the films, and not throw in the EU? Because if you are going to use in your argument Admiral Zaarin from the TIE Fighter games, then I am free to use the Dark Empire graphic novels, where Palpatine can create a giant Force storm to act as a wormhole, so Palpatine could have made the Death Star disappear.

Besides, during ANH, Vader was not yet plotting against Palpatine in any serious way. He had yet to find out the depths of which Palpatine had lied to him about his family. Vader's discovery Luke is alive was the major catalyst that led to his plotting to betray Palpatine in any kind of serious way. Vader would have remained loyal to Palpatine during that time frame, and would have slaughtered Tarkin for even suggesting he turns the DS on Coruscant.

 

The EU can be used in discussions and acknowledged by anyone who wishes to acknowledge it. It's up to you, however, if you want to acknowledge it or not, but just keep in mind that anyone who wishes to use it as canon can.