From: your.name@isp.com   
      
   "Benjamin Pavsner"  wrote in message   
   news:I9Z1l.8966$mw2.1173@bignews4.bellsouth.net...   
   >   
   > "Todd"  wrote in message   
   > news:en2ek45jgegsof8kti5nt0o6inco9pqmso@4ax.com...   
   > >I always wondered, when watching ANH, what academy Luke wants to send   
   > > his application to.  It seems unlikely there is some sort of Rebel   
   > > academy he could attend since they are supposed to be on the run from   
   > > the Empire.  And he certainly wouldn't be attending the Imperial   
   > > Academy since he "hates" the Empire.   
   > >   
   > > So where and what is this academy?   
   > >   
   > > If there is something in the FAQs about this, I'd appreciate a quote.   
   > >   
   > > Thanks.   
   >   
   > It SOUNDS the Academy has approval of the Empire (it'd have to, at least)   
   if   
   > not totally an Imperial operation totally. Luke doesn't sound like he's   
   > interested in the Rebellion at the time he brings the Academy up. I think   
   it   
   > might also be the Academy Han went to early on.   
      
   The Academy itself was around before the Empire, but like everything else   
   the Emperor took it over for his own needs.   
      
   From the book "A Guide to the Star Wars Universe" ...   
      
        The Academy   
        During the time of the Old Republic, this elite educational   
        institution produced highly trained personnel to fill posts   
        in Exploration, Military and Merchant Services. Under the   
        rule of the Emperor, the Academy slowly turned into the   
        training ground for Imperial officers, especially the   
        Raithal Academy in the Core region. All of its numerous   
        campuses, spread across the galaxy, had a reputation   
        for a competitive selection process and a rigorous   
        curriculum.   
      
   Luke wanted to be a pilot and get away from Tatooine to explore the galaxy,   
   and being accepted to the Academy was probably the cheapest and most likely   
   option to enable him to do both.   
      
   Some young people today do the same thing here - they join the army, navy or   
   air force to get to travel and often a free education (either university or   
   technical institute) in exchange for a few years of service.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)