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In the RotJ novelization, Palpatine orders Moff Jerjerrod to destroy the forset moon should the Rebels deactivate the energy shield. Once this happens, the Moff complies and prepares the Death Star to fire (of course, it is destroyed before this occurs).

My question is wouldn't the Death Star, being in relatively low orbit, unshielded and incomplete, be severely damaged if not destroyed by the resultant blast that would be created by the destruction of Endor? The first Death Star's minimum distance of fire was 6 "planetary diameters" out from the target to ensure no damage (with shields operational).

Was Palpatine simply making idle threats to Luke which happened to be carried out once the unlikely event of shield failure occured?

If the Empire had pulled through in the space battle and stopped the Rebels from destroyed the station, and Jerjerrod had fired on Endor would the Death Star have been destroyed by its own fire?

Possibly. But the Emperor might also have been in an attitude of 'if I go down, your going with me!' after the DS became open to attack.

That's the context I saw the order in as well- basically letting Luke know that no matter what happened, he had no chance. Personally, I also think the Emperor fully expected to get off the Death Star if that happened. Overconfident ass.

Could it be that the Death Star was moving away from Endor trying to get to minimum safe distance when it blew up? That could be why Jerjerrod didn't just open up and fired on Endor, giving Lando's group time to hit it from the inside.

Or the armor is tough enough to shrug it off

*runs*

I must agree that the emporer thought that if the rebels, somehow turned this trap to their advantage, and got the shield deactivated and were making their run. surly, the death star would die. so why not take abunch of rebel leaders and heros with it? he'd be out in time.
But If he got out in time, what of luke?

Jerry could have simply hit it with a low powered blast - enough to burn it clean, but not enough for it violently explode and hurt the DS II.

Ford Prefect wrote:Jerry could have simply hit it with a low powered blast - enough to burn it clean, but not enough for it violently explode and hurt the DS II.

Something like the superlaser on an Eclipse or Sovereign class dreadnaught? Makes sense. There's no way they used a planet-fraggingly powerful blast on that MC-80.

Ford Prefect wrote:Jerry could have simply hit it with a low powered blast - enough to burn it clean, but not enough for it violently explode and hurt the DS II.

True, and it shouldn't take much more than what they were using against the Rebs. I never quite understood why they didn't. I originally thought it was because they didn't want to outright kill the troops down there. Then I started reading a lot of EU where they didn't seem to care if a few thousand soldiers died. As long as they can kill a handful of Rebs.

I originally thought it was because they didn't want to outright kill the troops down there. Then I started reading a lot of EU where they didn't seem to care if a few thousand soldiers died. As long as they can kill a handful of Rebs.

What EU source is this from?

Just the general EU brainbug that Stormies (and TIE pilots as well) are considered 100% expendable and that the EMpire wouldn't hesitate to dispense of a few to get some Rebels.

Well it's canonical that Palpatine didn't care. Jerjerrod however objected as to the troops that would be on the surface the moment he heard the order, but quickly shut up when Palpatine repeated himself for emphasis.

Vympel wrote:Well it's canonical that Palpatine didn't care. Jerjerrod however objected as to the troops that would be on the surface the moment he heard the order, but quickly shut up when Palpatine repeated himself for emphasis.

True. However, we still can't take that instant and assume that Palpy will execute large numbers of "his best troops" (regardless of what "best' implies" if anything) to kill a few Rebels in an ordinary situation. Eu simply expanded this instance into a brainbug in which Stormies are completely expendable in any situation (until they become rare under Thrawn).

Noble Ire wrote:What EU source is this from?

Rogue squad books. Stackpole has a scene where the Imps have found a new staging ground the Rogues plan to use. They send in the 'Troopers, but the Rogues have laid a minefeild down since they haven't had time to set up all their defenses. The 'Troopers just walk right through the feild. They don't try to clear it, go around, nothing. They just go right through. Meanwhile some LT who is overseeing the op mentions how thorough 'Trooper training is in erasing your identity because the 'Troopers neither hesitate nor slow. Just keep going.