The Death Star Was Secretly The Empire’s Replacement For Darth Vader.

 Star Wars Death Star was supposed to be the Empire’s replacement for Darth Vader. One of the most recognizable elements of the Star Wars universe the Death Star has been a mainstay in the franchise's lore either appearing or being referenced in everything from the first Star Wars movie to the Andor Disney+ TV show. The Empire's battle station was even the focus on the first Star Wars anthology movie Rogue One A Star Wars Story.

Between special storm troopers like the Death Troopers and battle stations of the size of a moon the Empire was always looking for new ways to upgrade its arsenal. At the same time Palpatine commanded his own legion of Inquisiton former Jedi who had fallen to the dark side but were not Sith, led by Darth Vader. Howeve had the first Death Star not been destroyed the Empire might have been quick to replace Darth Vader with its new battle station.

How The Death Star Shifted The Star Wars Galaxy’s Power Balance

Palpatine was the greatest Sith Lord of all time but he knew even he couldn't rule the entire galaxy without the help of much of the Galactic Republic's structure  repurposed and transformed into the Empire. The Senate for example continued to exist  except it was now an Imperial Senate. Palpatine only closed the Imperial Senate once the Death Star was complete because the balance of power had changed. The Death Star could eliminate entire planets in a split second meaning the Emperor could now rule through fear.

Star Wars has openly admitted this is why the Death Star's destruction was bad for Palpatine. In Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca's Darth Vader #1 the Emperor was furious Darth Vader failed to protect the Death Star. Now we no longer have the Senate to hold order  the Emperor fumed. We do not have the Death Star to force it. Our greatest weapon is gone our production is in ashes. We are besieged. In all these years  we have never skirted closer to disaster.

Why The Empire Never Really Respected Darth Vader

According to George Lucas  the Imperials were aware that  the Emperor is the final world and that they did not really have to worry about Palpatine’s lackey. Granted  Darth Vader using the Force to choke an Imperial in A New Hope comes off as scary for those in the room  yet they know that there is not much Darth Vader can do outside the Emperor’s orders. Grand Moff Tarkin  for example  did not fear Darth Vader at all  as the character responded directly to Emperor Palpatine. In the eyes of the Empire  Darth Vader was a glorified bounty hunter.

That said  the lower ranks of the Empire did fear Darth Vader. The Empire Strikes Back features several moments in which Darth Vader scares the crew aboard his Star Destroyer  as seen in the classic scene in which Vader Force chokes Admiral Ozzel despite them being in two different places. The Empire Strikes Back helped redefine Darth Vader as a major Star Wars villain in his own right  but Return of the Jedi reminded audiences Vader was never the one in charge. Darth Vader was an important asset  but replacing the Death Star was even more important  at least from the Empire's perspective.