> > So, why is he deferring to Tarkin? He
should have taken control.
>
> I got the impression that Tarkin technically
outranked Vader. Vader still deferred to Tarkin
as a formality, though, as protocol dictated.

The Death Star was a military station, and
under military command and jurisdiction. As a
"Grand Moff," presumably one of the highest, if
not *the* highest, rankings in the imperial
military hierarchy, Tarkin was in command
there. Although Vader's position in imperial
politics was about as high as one could get
without being the Emperor, he was still a
civilian aboard a military station, so yeah, I'd
say that protocol dictated that Tarkin gave the
orders, and Vader merely advised.