Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Andor episodes 1-3Andorseason 2 just revealed that the first Death Star was overdue, meaning that theStar Warsgalaxy would have been doomed had it been on time. Taking place in the years beforeRogue OneandA New Hope,Andorhas been showing the true origins of the Rebel Alliance and everything it took to bring all the various cells together to form a meaningful resistance. However, it has also been detailing how the Empire was tightening its grip on the galaxy, particularly with the construction of their greatest and most classified superweapon.
Andorseason 2 episodes 1-3 all take place in 4BBY, four years beforeA New Hopeand the Battle of Yavin where the Death Star was destroyed. In these premiere episodes, Ben Mendelsohn’s Director Krennic holds a secret summit of carefully handpicked Imperial officers to discuss the Emperor’s desire for the Empire to have independent, unlimited power. In truth, the search for new sources of energy is all in the service of Krennic’s Project Stardust, andKrennic himself confirms theStar Warsgalaxy would have been much different had he been able to keep the Death Star’s construction on schedule.
The Death Star Was Supposed To Have Been Ready Long Before A New Hope
The Death Star Wars Up To A Year Overdue
Taking place at the Maltheen Divide, Krennic’s secret summit discusses how the Empire can secure the rich deposits of kalkite on the planet Ghorman. Because Imperial mining operations would destabilize the planet’s core, discussion is needed about how theEmpire can best prepare to handle the 800,000 Ghorman citizenswho will be endangered and likely resist Imperial efforts to relocate and destroy their homeworld. Furthermore, it’s confirmed that the kalkite itself is desperately needed for Krennic’s project, as it’s needed to coat the Death Star’s reactor lenses.
However, Krennic also confirms during his presentation that he’s promised full delivery on the project within three years. BecauseAndorseason 2, episodes 1-3 are confirmed to be in 4 BBY, we now know that the Death Star was up to a year overdue. While it had been established previously that Krennic faced multiple delays and setbacks, this is the first time it’s been confirmed just how long Krennic’s project was overdue, and how soon it could have been ready had Stardust remained on schedule.
The Rebel Alliance Wasn’t Truly Unified Until Rogue One…
It’s quite dark to imagine what would have happened to the galaxy had the Death Star been completed according to Krennic’s original timetable. After all, a year early would have spelled absolute disaster for the Rebellion, as it had just begun as a true alliance and didn’t fully coordinate until the events ofRogue Oneand the Battle of Scarif, just ahead ofA New Hope.Likewise, it stands to reason that no one in the Rebellion would have yet known about the project, so nobody would have tried to steal the plans.
All opposition to the Empire likely would’ve died had the Death Star been ready a year earlier, as first promised by Krennic. Likewise, who knows if Luke Skywalker would have even emerged to join the Rebellion as he does inA New Hope,who subsequently destroys the battle station (an act largely done by Luke’s connection to the Force). The concept opens up so many variables that drastically change theStar Warstimeline, and none of them are good.
Krennic’s Failure Sealed The Empire’s Fate
“Delays and Setbacks”
Thankfully, Director Krennic failed to deliver an operational battle station on time. This single year gave the Rebellion enough time to fully coalesce as well as for galaxy’s new hope to emerge with Luke Skywalker. It certainly helped that Director Krennic faced so many different “delays and setbacks"as mentioned inAndorseason 2, episode 1.
One major setback took place before the Empire, when theGeonosian labor force working on the Death Star project’s earliest stagessabotaged construction on Poggle the Lesser’s orders, undoing three months of work as a diversion so the formerly captured Geonosian leader could rejoin the Separatists ahead ofRevenge of the Sith. Because the Republic’s Special Weapons Group’s deal with the Geonosians was orchestrated by Krennic, the betrayal dealt a serious blow to his reputation.Nevertheless, it’s still quite remarkable that Director Krennic remained so determined to make his project a reality…only for the credit to be co-opted by Grand Moff Tarkin inRogue One.
Andorseason 2, episodes 1-3
Andorseason 2, episodes 4-6
Andorseason 2, episodes 7-9
Andorseason 2, episodes 10-12
