In a New Hope an Imperial Officer brings up the Force and how outdated it is and starts mocking Vader until he gets choked, so I am wondering how much they know, is it at a basic level? I imagine having Vader creep around and not being part of the formal Military Hierarchy raises a lot of questions about him and the Force.
shareObviously some know more than others. Admiral (General) Motti certainly wasn't aware that Vader could choke him from across the room or he wouldn't have pushed the issue with the stolen plans. I'd say that Captain Piett, if he didn't already know, learned quickly about Vader's Force abilities just prior to his promotion to Admiral. Tarkin probably knew more than anyone, although he even referred to Vader's Sith affiliation as "religion," just like Motti.
I'd say that, unless you were unlucky enough to experience Vader's Force powers, you probably just "heard stuff."
Yes, most Imperial officers would have been alive when the Jedi were still in power, although they were much younger. But most of these officers would have been of an age that understood the Jedi were in touch with the Force.
shareThe Jedi were supposedly the ones who did all that stuff and they've been extinct for decades. As far as much of the Empire knows, Vader isn't a Jedi, and many of them even wonder some crazy things about what exactly is under that armour. (Director Krennic even wondered if he was some kind of fire monster after visiting Mustafar). Any who even know the word Sith simply believe it's just a cult.
"I can't read peoples' minds, I'm not a Jedi!" Lucifer Morningstar
Yes, they know about the Force.
In a New Hope an Imperial Officer brings up the Force and how outdated it is and starts mocking Vader until he gets choked, so I am wondering how much they know, is it at a basic level?Yes, pretty much. They know that it is pertinent to Vader's "sorcerer's ways" and the Jedi's power, and at least clairvoyance and foresight, among other things.
I imagine having Vader creep around and not being part of the formal Military Hierarchy raises a lot of questions about him and the Force.Why? It's not so different from the relationship between the Jedi Knights and the Grand Army of the Republic, except Vader doesn't hold the title of general. His rank is higher. He is like a prince onto the Imperial power structure. His salutation is "lord", much like how a Jedi Master's salutation is "master". share