Filmen officiella novellering är ganska tydlig på detta. Tarkin, en man som är känd för sin beslutsamhet och med en förkärlek för Gordian Knot cutting gjorde en snap dom att situationen hade försämrats bortom rimlig kontroll. Han var också ganska angelägen om att testa sin nya leksak och döda några av admiralerna och generalerna som hade visat sig vara irriterande för honom under stationens konstruktion.
The deck shuddered lovingly as the battle station dropped out of lightspeed. Dozens of objects flashed onto the overbridge’s tactical displays—Imperial and rebel vessels in conflict throughout the system—and Wilhuff Tarkin made his assessment after seconds of perusal. The Empire was losing over Scarif, but that was about to change.
...
There was proud enthusiasm in General Romodi’s voice. Tarkin looked to the old warhorse, then shook his head. It might be amusing—even illuminating—to test the station’s capabilities against a rebel armada, but now was not the day to toy with the enemy. Director Krennic, General Ramda, and Admiral Gorin had all failed to solve the problem at hand, granting the rebels opportunity after opportunity to seize the schematics from the Citadel.
At last report, the data vault itself had been breached. It was a show of incompetence so great that Tarkin was almost curious to know how Krennic might explain it away.
Almost curious.
No. Best to start fresh—to eliminate the threat of the rebels, however slight, and clear away the deadwood of the Imperial military....
Tarkin looked to the viewscreen and to Scarif: an ocean-drenched sphere of islands rich with rare metals, useful as a construction outpost and research incubator away from the Senate’s prying eyes. But Tarkin would not miss it. Over the years, too many officers had treated it as a place for unofficial retirement; a tropical paradise where they could neglect their duty in comfort. The loss of the Citadel and the planetary shield would be a pity—but no more than that.
“Single reactor ignition,” Tarkin said. “You may fire when ready.”
Filmens junior roman överensstämmer och tillägger att Tarkin har mer oro över planerna än personalen på planets yta.
“Lord Vader will handle the fleet. The plans must not be allowed to leave Scarif—at any cost.”
It was then that the general understood exactly what Tarkin meant. While the Death Star certainly could take out the entire rebel fleet, doing so would require time. Every moment that slipped past was another moment something could go wrong—something in the rebels’ favor.