Chương 42: Bonus Story : Star Wars: Part 6 : Darth Vader

The Tantive IV continued to echo with the blaster fire of the Stormtroopers. Imperial soldiers advanced methodically through the corridors, driving back the last Rebel defenders with ruthless efficiency. Aldric followed every movement without so much as blinking. Since the beginning of the film, he had been studying the strategic decisions of both sides, but now he was waiting to see the one commanding this impressive operation. Smoke filled the shattered corridor of the Tantive IV.

A towering black figure slowly emerged through the gaping breach in the hull, and the entire theater held its breath. Even after all these years, Darth Vader's entrance had lost none of its impact. Aldric remained just as motionless, though he felt something entirely different from the rest of the audience. Where everyone else saw the story's great villain, he saw a commander. His eyes swept across the entire scene.

He studied the way Darth Vader advanced without the slightest hint of haste, his full armor, his perfectly steady breathing, and the soldiers stepping aside as he approached. No one spoke. No one questioned his orders. Even before he uttered a single word, his authority was already absolute. The hero didn't even bother taking notes anymore. He simply watched with the focus of one general studying another. Every detail seemed revealing.

A commander who personally led the assault inspired far more respect than an officer who remained behind the front lines. His heavy armor spoke of long experience in battle, and the silence that accompanied each of his footsteps often carried more weight than the longest speeches. Emma leaned toward him.

"He's the villain."

"I know." A few seconds passed as Darth Vader continued making his way through the ship.

"Excellent commander."

"No!" Two moviegoers seated in front of them turned around. Emma immediately shrank back into her seat.

"Sorry..." She waited a few seconds before speaking again, much more quietly.

"You can't admire Darth Vader." Aldric turned to look at Emma.

"Why?"

"Because he's the villain." The hero immediately turned his attention back to the screen. He studied Darth Vader once more, then the Stormtroopers surrounding him, the Imperial officers awaiting his orders, and finally looked back at Emma.

"I don't see the connection."

"What do you mean, you don't see the connection?"

"You've merely told me that he belongs to the opposing side. That doesn't diminish his abilities as a commander. Look at his soldiers. They obey him instantly. None of them questions his decisions. None of them panics despite the fighting. Discipline like that is never achieved by chance." The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Emma let out a long sigh.

"You really analyze everything, don't you?"

"Naturally." His attention returned to Darth Vader, who was now examining the bodies of the Rebel soldiers killed during the assault.

"You're forgetting one detail..."

"Which one?"

"Darth Vader is cruel."

"Probably."

"Not 'probably.' He is cruel."

"That doesn't change his qualities as a commander."

"You can't seriously call him an excellent commander."

"The two are not mutually exclusive. He inspires immediate respect."

"Fear!"

"Fear is a form of respect. He personally leads the operation." On the screen, Darth Vader continued advancing among his troops.

"He always goes in first." Several Stormtroopers secured the corridors before allowing him to pass.

"None of his soldiers hesitates when he gives an order." Emma rolled her eyes.

"Of course not. They're terrified of him."

"The result is the same." He watched the screen for a few more moments.

"His armor protects his vital areas effectively. And he remains perfectly calm under pressure." Emma felt a deep sense of hopelessness creeping over her. Every time she reminded him that Darth Vader was a tyrant, Aldric countered with another military virtue. Yet the movie kept proving his point in several respects. The Imperial officers obeyed without question. The soldiers carried out every order immediately. No one seemed to challenge his authority.

"The Third Duke of Kharan would have admired his sense of discipline."

"You're comparing Darth Vader to one of your kingdom's heroes?"

"To an excellent general."

"That's completely different!" She knew Darth Vader well and already knew everything he had done. Aldric, however, had seen only the opening scenes of the film. In his eyes, he wasn't looking at the tyrant everyone else knew, but simply at a particularly capable enemy commander whose decisions were worth studying.

"I understand why his enemies fear him." Emma let out a deep sigh.

"That's exactly the problem! He uses that fear to do evil."

"That does not diminish his abilities." Emma rubbed a hand across her forehead.

"You're impossible..."

"During the wars in my kingdom, several enemy commanders were exceptionally capable. I fought against them. Some were cruel, others honorable, but I never denied their military skill. A knight who underestimates his opponent dies quickly."

"You really do analyze everything like a general..."

"It's the only way to survive a war." The film continued. Leia now stood before Darth Vader without showing the slightest hint of fear. Despite his threats, despite the imposing presence of the Dark Lord, she remained astonishingly composed. Emma had been waiting for this moment for several minutes. She leaned toward Aldric with a satisfied smile.

"See? He tortures prisoners."

"Poor decision." Emma smiled immediately.

"See!"

"Not for moral reasons." Emma's smile vanished at once. She closed her eyes.

"Of course..."

"Information obtained through torture is rarely reliable."

"Excuse me?"

"There are far better ways to gather intelligence."

"A prisoner in pain wants only one thing: for the suffering to end. They will therefore provide whatever information they believe their interrogator wants to hear. Whether it is true or false becomes secondary. It would have been far more effective to isolate the prisoner, let her believe she was negotiating for her freedom, and then verify each of her statements independently." A few scenes later, Aldric spoke again without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Darth Vader delegates too much at times. He allows several officers to handle situations he should be supervising himself. He also underestimates certain opponents." For the first time since their discussion had begun, Aldric voiced genuine criticism of his "excellent commander."

"He lets Governor Tarkin make decisions that are primarily political. That's dangerous. And he relies far too heavily on the Death Star. Despite those few flaws, he's probably one of the finest commanders in this war." Emma let her head fall back against the seat.

"Of course he is..." At that moment, the moviegoer seated directly behind them leaned forward.

"To be fair, he's not entirely wrong."

"So there are two of you..."

"Two military history enthusiasts, apparently." Aldric turned toward him. His expression brightened immediately, and he gave the man a respectful nod.

"You're familiar with this campaign as well?"

"For a very long time."

"Your knowledge must be considerable."

"Let's just say I've studied the subject more than once." Meanwhile, Aldric had already turned his full attention back to the screen.