Leia's Job

Aug 11, 2008 14:30

What exactly is Leia's position in the Rebel Alliance? I don't think we ever find out in the movies.

At the beginning of ANH, it seems she's a spy: she uses "mercy missions" and "diplomatic missions to Alderaan" (if she's from Alderaan, why is she on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan, anyway?) to cloak her other activities, such as stealing top- ( Read more... )

star wars: originals, star wars: politics, leia organa

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sunnyskywalker August 12 2008, 03:34:17 UTC
It's the Prequels that really muddle things for me. Because yes, if the Rebellion was relatively new, chaos would make sense. If it's twenty years old, huh? Even with all the major players running their own cells, you'd think they'd have had time to hash out some basic structure during that time to help the fight go more smoothly. (Wouldn't want chain of command issues wrecking a perfectly good campaign.)

It probably works best if the Rebellion took a long time to get going. Bail and Mon Mothma and the others who knew Palpatine and saw the Jedi teenagers get mowed down would know they had to oppose the Empire, but the average HoloNet viewer might have had no idea for years. So maybe they had no personnel to speak of until recently.

And even with the hodge-podge set-up, you'd still think that Leia would get some sort of title after three years of fighting, if Luke gets one after a single (albeit impressive) battle. Maybe she is a commander or a general, but everyone still calls her Princess because it's more impressive?

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sunnyskywalker August 15 2008, 18:22:55 UTC
It does seem like she's the poster child. Her dad was one of the founders, she's taken up his mantle, she's of the new generation... I wonder what she does all day, though? Organizing supplies and trying to win new people (and funds) to the Rebellion?

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4thofeleven August 12 2008, 02:46:10 UTC
I'd imagine the Alliance became far more militarised after the destruction of Alderaan and the disbanding of the senate. Whatever role Leia was playing pre-ANH became pretty much obsolete after that, even if she hadn't been exposed as a rebel agent ( ... )

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sunnyskywalker August 12 2008, 03:38:03 UTC
I've wondered why they had a general fighting a (space) naval battle. Possibly they don't have a distinction between Army and Navy either, and just stuck "General" somewhere in the list of titles under "Admiral." They do have Admiral Ackbar ultimately in charge of the space battle. Using previously-earned titles sounds reasonable too.

Yeah, she should have gotten promoted to Queen, you would think. Though since her father was "Viceroy," maybe the Empire froze the monarchy at some point (and made Prince Bail Imperial Viceroy there to appease the locals?). Maybe Leia is technically in charge of the Alderaanian cell of the Rebellion, but there's not much left of it, so she ends up as a floating command person who takes on whatever needs doing?

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deaka August 13 2008, 14:40:38 UTC
This has bothered me when researching fic in that era. It seems like she's a part of the civilian command, but what does she do? It's maddeningly vague in the movies. I suppose it depends how militarised the Alliance is, but I always thought that there would have to be some set hierarchy in place, some kind of structured system. Otherwise who would know where to take orders from? The Alliance may be wanting to avoid resembling the Empire, but on the other hand the Imperial defectors in Alliance ranks are used to a structured command system and may not adjust well to finding themselves without one. Especially in a battle scenario.

Come to think of it, I don't think Mon Mothma had a title in the Alliance. Would she retain Senator as a title (even through the Senate's disbanded)? Was Garm Bel Iblis referred to as Senator in the EU?

It's all very unclear. Perhaps the Alliance just weren't very organised. :p

Edited for typos. I should know better than to try to type coherently after midnight.

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sunnyskywalker August 14 2008, 19:53:50 UTC
Yeah, they must have some kind of structure, however loose and fluid. Especially with twenty years to work on it. So what is it? I would guess that until sometime soon before the movies, it's been a loose cell structure with a minimal high command to prevent major screw-ups, and maybe with not as many people to organize (which would explain why they haven't had any major victories until ANH). But with a bunch of senators running it, you would think they'd have invented some sort of structure over the years. They organize stuff! That's what they do!

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deaka August 15 2008, 14:24:54 UTC
I would guess that until sometime soon before the movies, it's been a loose cell structure with a minimal high command to prevent major screw-ups, and maybe with not as many people to organize (which would explain why they haven't had any major victories until ANH).

I guess that would make sense, especially if the victory at Yavin 4 sort of galvanised things and they suddenly had more people joining up than they knew what to do with. :p

Oh, and I forgot to ask before, is it okay if I friend you? I keep missing fanfic you post (and I love your meta-type posts, too).

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sunnyskywalker August 15 2008, 18:26:46 UTC
Of course it's okay! *friends back*

Now I'm imagining the weeks after Yavin being swamped with tons of people signing up and the Rebels having no idea what to do with them. It almost sounds like a sitcom - pile a bunch of Rebels in sleeping bags on the floor because there's nowhere to put them and watch what happens XD

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