AD-43

This attack droid was positioned approximately half a kilometer from the Valley of the Jedi. Its programming directed it to both gather information and eliminate anyone attempting to approach the Valley. Stationed near a ledge on the canyon wall, this perimeter patrol droid encountered a team of Rebels led by Grif Grawley, who were trying to ascend and infiltrate Perimeter Two of Jerec's base undetected. Grawley, unable to draw his blaster in time, charged directly at the droid, which responded in kind. Locked together, the droid's pincer began to crush Grawley's leg. Grawley then drew his diamond-hard hunting knife and struck the droid's casing, eventually hitting its guidance system, causing it to spin uncontrollably. Grif's allies, Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors, observed this; Jan attempted to shoot the rapidly rotating droid but was unsuccessful.

Ultimately, the damage caused the droid to lose control, crash into a cliff face, and plummet into a canyon below, resulting in Grif's death. Before being destroyed, the droid transmitted scans of three Humans and one unidentifiable bouncer to Imperial forces: Grif Grawley, Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors, and Floater.

The base dispatched units to investigate the situation. While awaiting their report, an officer informed Jerec of the events. Upon hearing this, the Dark Jedi Warlod opted not to wait for the analyses, instead utilizing his enhanced Force senses to detect the intruders' presence.

This droid makes its initial appearance in the Dark Forces: Jedi Knight novella, where it is identified as an attack droid. Its full designation is later revealed through dialogue, with AD clearly standing for Attack Droid. However, in Dave Dorman's illustration, it is depicted as a Viper probe droid.

This article primarily follows the novella's account. The audio adaptation presents a slightly different scenario: in the novella, Grif encounters the droid while scaling a ledge, whereas in the audio drama, the team appears to be walking when the droid attacks. Additionally, the droid in the audio drama possesses a vocabulator and announces its reports verbally. Unlike the novella, the droid doesn't seem to use repulsors, and the encounter is portrayed as a ground-based physical confrontation. Furthermore, Jan and Kyle are standing nearby on the ground, not hanging from a rope, and Jan urges Kyle to shoot the droid, but he hesitates. Ultimately, the droid's destruction and Grif's death result from the exchange of blows and damage, rather than a fall from a cliff face into an abyss.

In the audio drama's credits, Martin Ruben is listed as "Battle Droid".