Alderaan Scaling

“We’re back in normal space,” Solo informed him, “but we’ve come out in the middle of the worst asteroid storm I’ve ever seen. It’s not on any of our charts.” He peered hard at several indicators. “According to the galactic atlas, our position is correct. Only one thing is missing: Alderaan.”

“Missing? But—that’s crazy!”

“I won’t argue with you,” the Corellian replied grimly, “but look for yourself.” He gestured out the port. “I’ve triple-checked the coordinates, and there’s nothing wrong with the nav ’puter. We ought to be standing out one planetary diameter from the surface. The planet’s glow should be filling the cockpit, but—there’s nothing out there. Nothing but debris.” He paused. “Judging from the level of wild energy outside and the amount of solid waste, I’d guess that Alderaan’s been … blown away. Totally.”

“Destroyed,” Luke whispered, overwhelmed at the specter raised by such an unimaginable disaster. “But—how?”

“The Empire,” a voice declared firmly. Ben Kenobi had come in behind Luke, and his attention was held by the emptiness ahead as well as the import behind it.

“No.” Solo was shaking his head slowly. In his own way even he was stunned by the enormity of what the old man was suggesting. That a human agency had been responsible for the annihilation of an entire population, of a planet itself …

“No … the entire Imperial fleet couldn’t have done this. It would take a thousand ships massing a lot more firepower than has ever existed.”

***

Star Wars Trilogy, A New Hope Chapter 8