"Fully Operational" is a brief story included in the From a Certain Point of View collection. Beth Revis is the author who penned this tale.
The narrative unfolds through the perspective of General Cassio Tagge, who holds the position of Chief within the Imperial Army. Shortly after the initial firing test on Jedha, Tagge arrived at the Death Star superweapon and bore witness to the Battle of Scarif. While traversing the corridors of the formidable battle station, Tagge contemplates its immense scale and destructive capabilities. He considers the legacy of the late Director Orson Krennic in the Death Star's construction, appreciating Krennic's dedication to the superweapon, yet simultaneously disliking the immature manner in which Krennic presented it.
Tagge makes his way into the meeting room, where he watches footage of the Battle of Scarif. Subsequently, Tagge examines a list he has compiled of "seditious" senators within the Imperial Senate. Mon Mothma is among those listed. Tagge considers including Bail Organa on the list, viewing him as an elusive individual bordering on insurgency. Tagge is aware that the rebels successfully stole the Death Star plans and that this stolen information is somewhere within the galaxy. After analyzing the data, Tagge comes to the conclusion that the rebels responsible for stealing the Death Star plans have ties to the Senate.
As Tagge contemplates seeking the Emperor's authorization to access the Death Star plans, a lower-ranking officer informs him of Admiral Conan Antonio Motti's arrival. Soon after, the Admiral is joined by several other Joint Chiefs. Tagge voices his concerns to Motti, stating that the Empire remains vulnerable until the Death Star achieves full operational status. He further asserts that the Rebel Alliance is significantly better equipped and poses a greater threat than Motti acknowledges. Motti retorts that the rebels only pose a threat to Tagge's starfleet, not to the battle station itself. Tagge cautions that the Rebellion will continue to garner support within the Imperial Senate.
Tagge's discussion is cut short by the arrival of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, who announces that the Emperor has dissolved the Imperial Senate, effectively eliminating the last vestiges of the Old Republic. When a shocked Tagge questions how the Emperor intends to maintain control without the bureaucracy, Tarkin explains that regional governors will now exercise direct control over their respective territories, adding that the fear instilled by the battle station will ensure compliance from the systems. Tagge warns that the rebels could exploit the Death Star plans to identify a vulnerability, to which Darth Vader responds that the plans Tagge speaks of will soon be recovered by the Empire.
Tagge briefly perceives the sounds of a spectral battle. He is visibly unnerved by Darth Vader and contemplates the mysteries concealed behind the mask. Tagge witnesses Motti's argument with Vader and the subsequent near-Force choke that nearly results in Motti's death for his mockery of Vader's beliefs. Following Tarkin's restoration of order, Tagge comes to the realization that the Empire's most potent weapon is not the Death Star, but rather Darth Vader himself.