It was a hyperspace station even in new hope. Never was said explicitly that it was, but how else would it get from where it was constructed to Yavin 4? The bus?


And it's not unlikely that the whole galaxy didn't know about the cities being destroyed. Only a few people made it off alive and the movie stated the senate was told it was mining accident. Scarif was an imperial base. Remember the movie literally led into the beginning of a new hope, and only a day passed until alderaan was destroyed.


As far as the demonstration thing, I think the exact line in A New Hope was it was time to demonstrate the *full* power of the Death Star. Which was true. Up until that point, it only had used a fraction of its power

I concur, Jehda was a low power test and Scarif was essentially born out of necessity. And both could be explained and/or covered up. Alderaan was a deliberate statement to the systems in the Empire; "Do not cross us, or we blow up you planet".  

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Just saw it today. Amazing. They made Vader a bad [BLEEP] again too which was awesome.

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IT WAS ALWAYS THE JAGS

Just saw it today. Amazing. They made Vader a bad [BAD WORD REMOVED] again too which was awesome.

I just wish we got a little bit more than that final epic scene with him.

 

Please bring more of the same Vader in the upcoming movies!

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