With the brand new poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens released into the public, we've noticed a lot of interesting pieces of visual information at play. One big piece is the fact that we may have our first look at the Starkiller Base – and it looks a lot like an upgraded Death Star, with some interesting capabilities.
The Starkiller Base does indeed look like a complete re-design of the Death Star line of destructive weaponry. And judging by our new look, this isn't going to be a simple trench run away from destruction. The Starkiller Base looks, and sounds, like it's in the business of doing massive damage. According to the official Star Wars website, the Starkiller Base is described as the following:
An ice planet converted into a stronghold of the First Order and armed with a fiercely destructive new weapon capable of destroying entire star systems.
With an actual planet being converted into a weapon, instead of building an artificial structure, there's no need for that pesky thermal venting port that allows enemy craft into the base's inner workings. The planet can naturally vent heat through its surface, allowing for safer operation - and possibly a viable ecosystem on the planet's surface. Still, the only way you're getting in there is to drill; and even if you were daring enough to do that, the energy shield that looks to be defending the planet won't even let you in. But say you had a way to lower the shields, and say you wanted to drill down to the core – there's still one big problem any intruder will have to face.
Once someone figures out you're up to no good, you can count on a flight of TIE-Fighters to sing you to your rest, as the Starkiller Base also looks like it serves as a dock to the Star Destroyers of The First Order's fleet. Imagine how many TIEs are fueled up and ready to go at a moments notice on each of the fleet's many crafts. Those Star Destroyers could launch as many TIE Fighters as needed, and that's if the Star Destroyers don't open fire on the incoming Resistance fleet with their own powerful laser arrays. Then again, should all else fail, General Hux could always fire up the gigantic weapon that Starkiller has at the heart of its structure, considering that if this base is really powerful enough to destroy an entire star system, it should have no problem eliminating the outward threat.
We still don't know exactly what the Starkiller Base will do exactly, but based on the visual evidence on hand, it looks like a slam dunk as to what we can expect from this newly armed and operational menace to the galaxy. However, if The Resistance is as inventive as the Rebel Alliance before it was, you can assume there's a spy somewhere in their ranks that's already working on obtaining a set of plans. While you've got to hand it to the First Order for sticking to the designs that the Galactic Empire really had their hearts set on, you have to admit that if this blows up in their faces – they only have themselves to blame.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters on December 18th, but you can see the final trailer tomorrow night during Monday Night Football; and purchase your tickets right after.
