doubleofive said:

Here's my 5 cents on the "TIE Fighters at Cloud City" issue:

At first I was excited about the prospect, then I read the good arguments about how that really wouldn't be Vader's MO. Then Darth Stewie turned me back around to liking it as we don't get to see much Imperial oppression against innocents. However, I still don't think it fits due to sequences in the movie.

Lando and Co blast their way out of Cloud City and leave in the Falcon with no problem. Then they turn around and pick up Luke. THEN the TIEs come down on them. I think that's when the "more Imperial troops" are arriving, because if there's already TIEs in the air over Cloud City, how does the Falcon leave, come back, and pick up Luke without being shot at?

I'm all for having various ships leaving after Lando announces the Empire's intentions (and as a fan of "Firefly", you could have Serenity really small in the background), but I'm no for the TIEs.

Okay, here's me trying to swing you back again....... Think of it. Who says that Lando and Co. blast their way out with no problem? IMO, your sequence of events is incorrect. You said "Then they turn around and pick up Luke. THEN the TIEs come down on them." That's not right. That's what we see, but the dialogue says differently. Right when Leia says "we've got to go back" Lando replies "What about those fighters?" Well right there is what we need to justify putting some TIES in. There are apparently TIES after them and the Imperials did what? Give up? That doesn't add up. I mean, are they just sitting around on some landing platform next to their TIES having coffee and a donut when one of the pilots looks to his buddies and says, "Damn. Its a shame they got away. I'm sure Lord Vader will be understanding that we were on a break and couldn't go after them. I mean, Union rules and all.... Hey... What's that in the distance there? Oh shit! Those fools turned around! Hell, I guess we had better get to work and go chase them now. Hey TK469... have you seen my keys?" Granted, this is one possible scenario but I have a different theory. I believe there's a whole squadron there busy with their orders to blast anything out of the sky that moves since at this point the Imperials are aware of Leia's escape and Lando's treachery. It would make everything even more intense knowing that the TIES are everywhere and ships are getting blown to smithereens and yet, after barely escaping on the platform and being just far enough ahead of the pursuing TIES, Leia insists they go back into that hellstorm to rescue Luke. At this point, you have to feel Lando's exasperation when he hears her make the "suggestion" that they turn back. We don't actually know what will happen to our heroes this time because so much bad has happened to them in this film already that they don't seem bulletproof anymore. Plus, only 3 TIE fighters!!! Come on! I don't buy it. After everything the Imperials went through to capture them it would seem that the same guy who said, "Hold your fire. There aren't any lifeforms aboard" is the one giving the orders. Here's the scene,

Officer: "Commander. The rebels that Lord Vader is "force choking" everybody to get his hands on, have just escaped, but they have just taken off and aren't that far ahead. What should we do?"

Commander: "Send 3 fighters to pursue them!"

Officer: "You mean 3 fighter squadrons right?"

Commander: "No. Just 3 Fighters."

Officer: "Sir.... are we paying by the laser now?"

Commander: "You don't make the budget Terry.... I do."