Originally posted by: theredbaron
The retarded thing about ROTS is that I'm pretty sure Darth Vader had no part in building or overseeing the construction of the first Death Star. It seems implicit in the dialogue of ANH:

VADER
Don't be too proud of this
technological terror you've
constructed. The ability to destroy
a planet is insignificant next to
the power of the Force.

By the sounds of it, Motti had it constructed, and he looked about 30-something years old in ANH by my estimation.

Which adds up to my theory that that particular scene happened some years after the events of ROTS, maybe 10 years before ANH (and that's why I asked for those planning on doing edits to have that scene being the last of the movie)

Here's why I belive that scene happened much later:

1- We can see imperial officers in full uniform. Now, I don't belive Palpatine had uniforms in boxes just waiting for his plans to succeed. Also, since we never see anyone on the prequels dressed up as an imperial officer up to that point, I think we may asume that those uniforms didn't exist by then.

2- Tarkin is by Palpatine's side, and he was not in the films until that point. It would take time before he could make to a Grand Moff. Those more familiar with the EU can elaborate on that.

3- And there's the whole debate on how fast it would take to build a Death Star. So we are led to belive it takes 20 years to build the first one, and 4 years to build a second one? Talk about learning from experience... Of course one could elaborate and say that the second Death Star was being constructed way before the events of ANH, but I don't belive it.

Now, a friend of mine, more familiar with the EU, said that the Empire built a prototype Death Star, which was merely an skeleton, pretty much like the one displayed - but I don't think ROTS would follow the EU that much; also, some people who are unaware of this would get confused.

So, my theory is: that scene happens some years later.