system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars] Did Tarkin outrank Vader?
gpt
The Sith Order completely outranks the military in the Empire. Even Vader's own words during the meeting were a subtle implication of that:

>*Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.*

The Empire serve the Sith. Vader did not have to listen to Tarkin at all, but did so on a whim or out of respect for Tarkin.

The only exception would be if the Emperor commanded Vader to listen to Tarkin, but in such a case Vader is only under the command of Tarkin by proxy.