The E-XD-series infiltrator droid, also known more simply as E-XD infiltrator droid, was a model of recon droid used by the Galactic Empire. EXD-9 was an Imperial infiltrator droid who infiltrated the Phoenix Cell's Chopper Base on Atollon.
E-XD infiltrator droid schematics
E-XD infiltrator droids were specialized recon droids designed to search for and infiltrate rebel bases. To facilitate this they possessed two modes- a "protocol" mode that outwardly resembled a RQ series protocol droid and an attack mode, which extended its limbs, torso, and head, revealing built-in blasters and a powerful pincer style grip.
When in protocol mode, their sensors were white. In attack mode, their sensors turned red and the droids were also capable of elevating their height. Infiltrator droids were capable of weathering extensive damage in combat, possessed considerable strength and could leap great heights. They were also capable of rapidly scanning various objects and lifeforms and identifying them, enabling at least one undercover unit to play the role of an inventory droid.
Infiltrator droids could also cannibalize other droids for parts and drain their power to repair itself. These droids were programmed to pilot tactical infiltration pods and to operate transmitters. Breaking Imperial protocol, the droids were fitted with a proton warhead that would self-destruct if the unit was compromised.
During the Imperial Era, Grand Admiral Thrawn commissioned the creation of E-XD infiltrator droids to scour the Outer Rim Territories for rebel bases. In 2 BBY, the Empire dispatched many infiltrator droids in tactical infiltration pods to hunt for the Phoenix Cell's base. One of these units, EXD-9, under the guise of an RQ protocol droid, discovered Chopper Base on the planet Atollon.
After being attacked by krykna spiders, he was adopted by Garazeb Orrelios and AP-5, who believed that he would make a good inventory droid thanks to his rapid scanning functionality. However, Alexsandr Kallus, an ISB agent who was serving as a rebel operative under the callsign Fulcrum, alerted Zeb to the presence of the droids. Following a struggle, Zeb, AP-5, and the astromech droid Chopper overpowered a transformed EXD-9 temporarily disabled him. Unfortunately, this activated the droid's failsafe.
Unable to reset or remove the warhead, Zeb had AP-5 reprogram him into a improvised bomb- setting the droid's programming to return to its home base and then resume its countdown the moment it was tied into the Imperial network, hopefully destroying the droid and anything around it before it could reveal the exact location of the base. Though AP-5 was less than certain he had been successful in reprogramming, the plan worked, destroying an Imperial Star Destroyer and all the other infiltrator droids aboard.
Despite the apparent failure of the effort, Thrawn was pleased with the results as he now knew that the Rebel base was on one of the planets that had been surveyed by the infiltration program. Though the exact location was not revealed, this narrowed his search considerably.
After Mon Mothma's rebellious speech against Emperor Palpatine, E-XD units were spread across the system in tactical infiltration pods in an effort to locate her. One of these units was searching a destroyed Separatist warship, where members of the waiting Ghost crew destroyed it.
The E-XD infiltrator droid first appeared in the Star Wars Rebels episode "Warhead," which first premiered on Disney XD on January 14, 2017. The design of the droid is based on an original design drawing for C-3PO by Ralph McQuarrie. The droid's explosive countdown is a nod to the titular character's explosive countdown in the 1987 film Predator.
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