I recently did a video on why the second Death Star was built in four years when it took
nineteen to build the first.
And I got a lot of comments suggesting that the second simply began construction well
before the destruction of the first.
Honestly that’s not a possibility that crossed my mind, because I always believed that the
second began construction as a replacement for the first.
But in canon material I actually couldn’t find a definitive statement that proves my
case.
But I did find plenty of evidence that suggests the second was built after the destruction
of the first, so I’ll present both sides of the argument in this video and you can
decide for yourselves.
Real quick, let’s talk Legends.
Again, not canon, but Legends does definitively state that construction on the second actually
began, ironically, as the Battle of Yavin was happening.
Palpatine already had some ideas on how to improve the station, specifically the superlaser,
and ordered the construction of a second.
So the second Death Star began construction after the first was completed, but before
it was destroyed, although it was close.
The canon is far more ambiguous.
I started my research in Wookiepedia, which does state that the Emperor ordered a second
Death Star immediately after the destruction of the first.
Problem is, no sources are cited, and I’m looking for definitive proof from content.
I couldn’t find any that specifically said what I’m looking for, but I do think the
timeline is strongly suggested.
We have to read between the lines a little bit, but I think the evidence is there.
Most of the evidence I found comes from the Darth Vader comic, Lost Stars, the novel Tarkin,
and A New Hope.
And really the best evidence I can provide is that the Death Star is always referred
to as a singular object.
The simultaneous construction of a second is never, ever mentioned.
So I guess there is a possibility that a super duper mega ultra top secret second Death Star
was already being built.
But Ockham’s Razor suggests that the simplest solution is more likely correct, and with
that I agree.
I think the evidence I’m about to present points towards one Death Star construction
over the course of nineteen years, and then a second replacement beginning construction
almost immediately after the Battle of Yavin.
Let’s start with the film itself, A New Hope.
In the big conference room scene, the Death Star is only ever referred to by itself.
Fear of this battle station.
Nobody ever says something like, “When the second one is done we’ll be unstoppable!”
The Empire put all their eggs into one basket.
They dissolved the Imperial Senate because it was no longer necessary.
They clearly felt one Death Star was enough to instill fear among rebelling systems.
They also talk about the mere possibility of the Rebels finding a weakness.
If they were aware of the thermal exhaust port, no one spoke up.
But if a second construction were already underway, it would make sense that it would
have the exact same design.
The canon character encyclopedia says Moff Jerjerrod was instructed to design the second
Death Star without the weakness of the first.
A weakness they were apparently not aware of until after the Battle of Yavin.
The Darth Vader comic builds on that idea a lot.
Taking place after the Battle of Yavin, we learn that without a Death Star or Senate,
the Empire started having problems maintaining control.
Rebel and pirate attacks became larger problems, and that’s cited as the need for a second
Death Star.
The Emperor does mention that the order for a new battle station had at least been made,
but again he doesn’t exactly say when.
But other statements again seem to confirm that there was ever only plans for one Death
Star.
Grand General Tagge states that “Our larger plans cannot be based around any individual
asset.
Not a Death Star.”
Tagge also calls the Death Star “Tarkin’s folly.”
Not follies.
Inspector Thanoth mentions spending “Decades to build an unparalleled weapon.”
Even the Emperor himself states “While the Death Star was being constructed.”
Not the Death Stars.
Next, a quick stop in the book Lost Stars.
An Imperial Lieutenant named Nash Windrider, who personally served Darth Vader aboard the
Executor, claims “Through sheer stupid luck, the rebels managed to destroy the first Death
Star.
By rebuilding the Death Star, and using it as many times as necessary to restore order,
we prove that their luck only goes so far."
Again, going with the simplest solution, it sounds to me like the Empire had one Death
Star.
Nobody ever says “The first Death Star maybe have been destroyed, but at least we have
the second well underway.”
I do have to admit I can’t completely rule out the possibility of a secret second construction.
But it would have to be a secret from even the Empire’s top authorities.
Technically the Sun Crusher in Legends was built under Tarkin’s orders without even
the Emperor’s knowledge, so there is some precedence there.
But I do think from the content we’ve received so far, one Death Star at a time is more likely.
So, if in Legends Tarkin had some secret projects going on, let’s explore what we know about
Tarkin in the new canon.
In the book called Tarkin.
He was involved in the Death Star’s construction since the beginning of the Empire.
If anyone were to know about any secret projects, it would be him.
Here’s what he had to say about the Death Star: “Both as impregnable fortress and
as symbol of the Emperor’s inviolable rule, the deep-space mobile battle station was an
achievement on the order of any fashioned by the ancestral species that had unlocked
the secret of hyperspace and opened the galaxy to exploration.
My only regret was in not employing a firmer hand in bringing the project to fruition in
time to frustrate the actions of those determined to thwart the Emperor’s noble designs.
Fear of the station, fear of Imperial might, would have provided the necessary deterrent.”
Interestingly, in that book the Death Star is never called by name, simply referred to
as the project.
But never once are multiple projects mentioned.
One final source I want to discuss is the man himself, Pablo Hidalgo.
He was kind enough to answer some questions via Twitter, albeit vaguely.
But I expect these questions are going to be touched upon in Rogue One and the upcoming
novel Catalyst, so the ambiguity is totally understandable.
I asked him exactly the question I’m posing in this video, and he responded that the original
didn’t take twenty years to build, it took twenty years to become operational, which
by the way very much aligns with the video I did about the vast difference in time to
construct two Death Stars.
I then asked if that meant it only took four years to make a second Death Star operational,
and he neither confirmed nor denied.
So.
I still think most of the evidence points towards the second Death Star beginning its
construction after the destruction of the first.
It seems to me the Empire planned to have one battle station to control that galaxy
with.
Maybe they had plans for multiple down the line, but I don’t believe those plans had
yet taken shape.
So if I have to guess at the most likely scenario, the second Death Star began construction after
the Battle of Yavin with enough knowledge to remove the vulnerabilities of the first.
However, I have to admit that researching this topic made me rethink some things.
When I did my previous Death Star video, I was positive of the timeline.
After looking into it more, it would be ignorant of me to hold the same opinion.
While I think the scenario I laid out is the most likely, there is definitely a chance
that another was built in secret.
It would have to be a huge secret, but again, that’s not without precedence in canon.
Additionally, Pablo’s vague answers make me think we are going to learn much more about
all this in some upcoming content.
Specifically Rogue One and the novel Catalyst.
I think Pablo was more referring to why it took nineteen years to build the first Death
Star, but it’s also possible, however unlikely, that we will get a major reveal of a second
Death Star already well underway.
Again only about five percent of me thinks this will happen, but what if the second Death
Star were in the final moments of Rogue One?
The Empire could lament the loss of the plans, but feel confident in their secret construction
that wouldn’t be so far along for some improvements.
Personally I think that would diminish the sacrifices we are likely to see from Jyn,
Cassian, Chirrut, Baze, Bodhi, K2-SO, and the rest.
But I want to stay open minded to the multiple possible answers to this question.
Whenever I cover a topic like this, it's important to me that I provide you with as many facts
as I can.
If I speculate I try to make that very clear.
If I can't provide you with a clear cut answer, at the very least I want to provide you with
the power to make a decision for yourself based on the content rather than my own opinions.
So what do you guys believe?
Do you think I make a solid case?
Or do you still think it’s more likely that the second Death Star began construction earlier?
Most importantly, if you have some good canon sources that provide a definitive answer,
please send them my way, because for the life of me I couldn’t find any.
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As always, thank you for watching and may the Force be with you!