Originally posted by Xanatos
What if the stormtroopers would have shot R2 and 3po's escape pod, would the empoeror have won.
If that had happened then Luke would never have left Tatooine nor have become a Jedi (if not Ben was planing something). Also, Princess Leia would have been executed and the location of the Yavin base would not be known. Therefor there would be no battle of Yavin and the death star would not have been destroyed and Tarkin killed. Then it would be no problem for the Emperor to finish off the Rebels.