Shadow Droid: Difference between revisions
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|affiliation=*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]<ref name="DEII" /> | |affiliation=*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]<ref name="DEII" /> | ||
*[[Dark Empire]] | *[[Dark Empire]]}} | ||
{{Quote|Something's not right. X-wings are always tenacious fighters. Why are they fleeing from the Shadow Droids?''"<br />"''They're frightened, sir… The Shadows are invincible!|Two unnamed Imperial officers during the [[Battle of Onderon (Galactic Civil War)|Battle of Onderon]]|Empire's End}} | {{Quote|Something's not right. X-wings are always tenacious fighters. Why are they fleeing from the Shadow Droids?''"<br />"''They're frightened, sir… The Shadows are invincible!|Two unnamed Imperial officers during the [[Battle of Onderon (Galactic Civil War)|Battle of Onderon]]|Empire's End}} | ||
'''Shadow Droids''' were [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Imperial]] [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighters]] [[Pilot/Legends|piloted]] by surgically implanted organic brains, making the Shadow [[Droid/Legends|Droid]] more of a [[Cyborg/Legends|cyborg]] rather than a true [[Battle droid/Legends|battle droid]]. | '''Shadow Droids''' were [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Imperial]] [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighters]] [[Pilot/Legends|piloted]] by surgically implanted organic brains, making the Shadow [[Droid/Legends|Droid]] more of a [[Cyborg/Legends|cyborg]] rather than a true [[Battle droid/Legends|battle droid]]. | ||
==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
It was said that the possible concept for the Shadow Droids came from Palpatine's interest in life-enslaving technology of the [[Ssi-ruu]]k. The chief engineer [[Umak Leth]] could not duplicate the reptilian aliens' complicated "[[entechment]]" process and instead he fell back on the proven success of a direct circuit-to-cerebrum neural link. To be able to do this Leth had to remove the still-living gray matter from scores of grievously wounded or incapacitated TIE pilot aces. The brains were sustained in a protected cocoon awash with nutrient fluids, and the brains were hardwired to external sensors, flight-control and weapons-control systems, and sophisticated tactical computers. | It was said that the possible concept for the Shadow Droids came from Palpatine's interest in life-enslaving technology of the [[Ssi-ruu]]k. The chief engineer [[Umak Leth]] could not duplicate the reptilian aliens' complicated "[[entechment]]" process and instead he fell back on the proven success of a direct circuit-to-cerebrum neural link. To be able to do this Leth had to remove the still-living gray matter from scores of grievously wounded or incapacitated TIE pilot aces. The brains were sustained in a protected cocoon awash with nutrient fluids, and the brains were hardwired to external sensors, flight-control and weapons-control systems, and sophisticated tactical computers. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
{{Quote|The imp's have some new kind of assault craft, sir… Makin' a mess of the SD's.|Unnamed officer to [[Governor/Legends|Governor]] [[Hinch Beltane|Beltane]] during the [[Battle of Balmorra]]|Dark Empire II}} | {{Quote|The imp's have some new kind of assault craft, sir… Makin' a mess of the SD's.|Unnamed officer to [[Governor/Legends|Governor]] [[Hinch Beltane|Beltane]] during the [[Battle of Balmorra]]|Star Wars: Dark Empire II}} | ||
The shadow droid project, under the guidance of Umak Leth, was one of the most twisted schemes embarked on by the Empire. Their biotic nature gave them additional advantages that automatons couldn't match; these sleek fighters were armed with the power of the dark side of [[The Force/Legends|the Force]]. The Shadow Droids would never have existed if not for Emperor Palpatine's experimentations, and following the First Galactic Empire's [[Battle of Endor/Legends|defeat]] at [[Endor/Legends|Endor]], Palpatine's spirit inhabited a fresh [[Cloning/Legends|clone]] body and set in motion new plans of military conquest. | The shadow droid project, under the guidance of Umak Leth, was one of the most twisted schemes embarked on by the Empire. Their biotic nature gave them additional advantages that automatons couldn't match; these sleek fighters were armed with the power of the dark side of [[The Force/Legends|the Force]]. The Shadow Droids would never have existed if not for Emperor Palpatine's experimentations, and following the First Galactic Empire's [[Battle of Endor/Legends|defeat]] at [[Endor/Legends|Endor]], Palpatine's spirit inhabited a fresh [[Cloning/Legends|clone]] body and set in motion new plans of military conquest. | ||
The Emperor's throne world of Byss was the homeworld of the research for the Shadow Droids, and it soon spread to several think-tanks and manufacturing centers sequestered on hidden worlds throughout the Deep Core. | The Emperor's throne world of Byss was the homeworld of the research for the Shadow Droids, and it soon spread to several think-tanks and manufacturing centers sequestered on hidden worlds throughout the Deep Core. | ||
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[[File:OperationShadowHandCoverArt-crop.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Shadow Droids fly behind [[X-1 Viper]]s.]] | [[File:OperationShadowHandCoverArt-crop.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Shadow Droids fly behind [[X-1 Viper]]s.]] | ||
It is still very unclear how these droids were able to access and manipulate the dark side of the Force, but it is very likely they used it as a sixth sense for identifying potential threats. The Galactic Empire used the Shadow Droids during the [[Battle of Balmorra]]<ref name="DEII" /> and in defense of Palpatine's flagship ''[[Eclipse II]]'' near [[Onderon/Legends|Onderon]].<ref name="EE">''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]''</ref> | It is still very unclear how these droids were able to access and manipulate the dark side of the Force, but it is very likely they used it as a sixth sense for identifying potential threats. The Galactic Empire used the Shadow Droids during the [[Battle of Balmorra]]<ref name="DEII" /> and in defense of Palpatine's flagship ''[[Eclipse II]]'' near [[Onderon/Legends|Onderon]].<ref name="EE">''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]''</ref> | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire II]]'' {{1st}} | *''[[Star Wars: Dark Empire II]]'' {{1st}} | ||
*''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]'' | *''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]'' | ||
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*''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]'' | *''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]'' | ||
*''[[The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons]]'' | *''[[The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons]]'' | ||
*{{EGCite|D|SD-9 and SD-10}} | |||
*{{ | *{{EGCite|D|Shadow Droid}} | ||
*{{ | *{{EGCite|D|X-1 Viper ("Automadon")}} | ||
*{{ | *{{EGCite|D|B'omarr brain walkers}} | ||
*{{ | |||
==Notes and references== | ==Notes and references== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Cyborgs]] | [[Category:Cyborgs]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:12, 7 March 2023
- "Something's not right. X-wings are always tenacious fighters. Why are they fleeing from the Shadow Droids?"
"They're frightened, sir… The Shadows are invincible!" - ―Two unnamed Imperial officers during the Battle of Onderon
Shadow Droids were Imperial starfighters piloted by surgically implanted organic brains, making the Shadow Droid more of a cyborg rather than a true battle droid.
Characteristics
It was said that the possible concept for the Shadow Droids came from Palpatine's interest in life-enslaving technology of the Ssi-ruuk. The chief engineer Umak Leth could not duplicate the reptilian aliens' complicated "entechment" process and instead he fell back on the proven success of a direct circuit-to-cerebrum neural link. To be able to do this Leth had to remove the still-living gray matter from scores of grievously wounded or incapacitated TIE pilot aces. The brains were sustained in a protected cocoon awash with nutrient fluids, and the brains were hardwired to external sensors, flight-control and weapons-control systems, and sophisticated tactical computers.
When the brains became cybernetic hardware, they stripped the pilots of every remaining shred of Humanity, but augmented their reflexes and abilities far beyond anything they would have otherwise known. Emperor Palpatine had also given to his creations one final gift: the ability to touch the dark side, which made them essentially remote extensions of his own will.[2]
The Shadow Droid was a streamlined starfighter that was capable of keeping pace with the New Republic's X-wing in space, and in the atmosphere they utilized a maneuverable repulsorlift system, but they could easily reach supersonic speeds with a short blast from their ion engines. These droids were also covered with a very glossy black alloy that made them difficult to pinpoint on sensor scans. The droids' twin wings that were extended from the side of the control pad supported repeating blasters, ion cannons, and electromagnetic pulse guns. The droids had two additional pylons to serve as racks and launchers for proton torpedoes and concussion missiles. The droids' two smaller dorsal lasers covered the rear field of fire, and a long-range antenna allowed the fighters to transmit their dense binary code stream between each other and their command ship.
History
- "The imp's have some new kind of assault craft, sir… Makin' a mess of the SD's."
- ―Unnamed officer to Governor Beltane during the Battle of Balmorra
The shadow droid project, under the guidance of Umak Leth, was one of the most twisted schemes embarked on by the Empire. Their biotic nature gave them additional advantages that automatons couldn't match; these sleek fighters were armed with the power of the dark side of the Force. The Shadow Droids would never have existed if not for Emperor Palpatine's experimentations, and following the First Galactic Empire's defeat at Endor, Palpatine's spirit inhabited a fresh clone body and set in motion new plans of military conquest. The Emperor's throne world of Byss was the homeworld of the research for the Shadow Droids, and it soon spread to several think-tanks and manufacturing centers sequestered on hidden worlds throughout the Deep Core.
The deadly machines were more cyborg than droid as they were implanted with the brains of mortally wounded TIE fighter ace pilots and were able to manipulate the dark side of the Force. Shadow Droids were first devised on the resurrected Emperor Palpatine's throne world of Byss. As manufacturing was secretly stepped up, the malevolent machines were produced on other Deep Core worlds.
It is still very unclear how these droids were able to access and manipulate the dark side of the Force, but it is very likely they used it as a sixth sense for identifying potential threats. The Galactic Empire used the Shadow Droids during the Battle of Balmorra[2] and in defense of Palpatine's flagship Eclipse II near Onderon.[3]
Appearances
- Star Wars: Dark Empire II (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Empire's End
Sources
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
- The Essential Guide to Droids ("SD-9 and SD-10")
- The Essential Guide to Droids ("Shadow Droid")
- The Essential Guide to Droids ("X-1 Viper ("Automadon")")
- The Essential Guide to Droids ("B'omarr brain walkers")
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12
"Byss and the Deep Core" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Star Wars: Dark Empire II
- ↑ Star Wars: Empire's End