MSE-6 series repair droid
The MSE-6 repair droid series, often called a mouse droid, functioned as a mobile repair droid. Hundreds were deployed to maintain cleanliness on the floors of starships and installations. Additionally, they served as message carriers and directed troops to their designated locations. These compact, rectangular droids navigated using four partially concealed driver wheels. A tray on top held secured directives. Despite their relative simplicity compared to fully autonomous droids, MSE-6 units were capable of handling a variety of intricate tasks.
Rebaxan Columni conceived the design during the era of the Galactic Republic, and they remained a common fixture on starships for many years. The Galactic Empire, which succeeded the Republic, continued to utilize the MSE-6. Subsequent administrations like the New Republic and the First Order also employed them. Even the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the criminal Haddrex Gang used MSE-6 droids. Their widespread presence spurred a growing market for modified versions used for spying and computer intrusion.
Description
Overview
Rebaxan Columni was the manufacturer of the MSE-6 series droid during the time of the Galactic Republic. As a member of the MSE series of maintenance droids, it resembled a much larger droid of similar design. The MSE-6 was tasked with performing maintenance duties on vessels, and were deployed in large numbers. Standing at a height of 0.25 meters, the MSE-6 featured black exterior panels. The internal components consisted of numerous wires, indicator lights, and buttons, offering an interface for reprogramming the droid.
Use
A data probe and a grasping claw were among the tools equipped on the MSE-6. The command order tray was also included to hold sealed instructions.
Despite its relative simplicity when compared to other droids, the MSE-6 repair droid series proved versatile, capable of executing a wide array of intricate tasks. These included floor cleaning, message delivery, and guiding personnel to their assigned locations. In one unusual instance, an MSE-6 droid was tasked with disposing of deceased individuals.
The unobtrusive nature of the droid line gave rise to a burgeoning aftermarket for modified MSE-6 droids, which were repurposed for surveillance and data slicing.
Behavior
The MSE-6 series repair droids were easily startled, as demonstrated by the case of MSE-6-G735Y. Mouse droids also appeared to exhibit suspicion towards individuals, as exemplified when Tamara Ryvora attempted to entice 5-L to reprogram it, or when Burg sought to lure a mouse droid stationed on a New Republic prison vessel in order to destroy it.
History
Republic Era
An MSE-6 unit was present in a residence in Mos Espa on the desert world of Tatooine. During 28 BBY, Sabé, a Naboo Royal Handmaiden, resided in this house for a period of six weeks while engaged in efforts to liberate slaves on the planet. While she mostly ignored the droid during her stay, her companion Tonra developed an affection for it over the course of their mission. Upon their recall to Coruscant by their lady, Senator Padmé Amidala, he suggested that they bring the droid with them. The mouse droid struggled with its mobility, often spinning in circles due to its wheels.
Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars, at least one MSE-6 droid was stationed within the Citadel on Lola Sayu in 20 BBY. It was present during an attempt by several Jedi and clone troopers to liberate Even Piell from the prison.
A Separatist-controlled Venator-class Star Destroyer, which had been seized by the Separatist Droid Army, included an MSE-6 droid as part of its crew. While this mouse droid survived the hijacking alongside other droids, all clone personnel on board perished. When D-Squad boarded the Venator, they encountered BNI-393, who led them to a shuttle where the surviving droids, including the MSE-6, were concealed. The group subsequently followed a buzz droid through the ship. After defeating the buzz droids, they returned to the shuttle and escaped before the Star Destroyer exploded before it could reach its target, the Republic space station Valor.
As the Clone Wars drew to a close, several MSE-6 droids were present at a Techno Union facility on Mustafar. When Darth Vader arrived to eliminate Separatist leaders, he inadvertently startled several small mouse droids in his path.
Age of the Empire
During the Imperial era of the Galactic Empire, specifically in or before 14 BBY, Darth Vader commanded a Venator-class Star Destroyer as his flagship. An MSE-6 droid was stationed on board. On one occasion, Darth Vader instructed this MSE-6 unit to prepare his meditation chamber. However, Admiral Mummert interrupted the droid to inform Vader that he could not deploy starships to the Hortolo system by the designated deadline. Vader then used telekinesis to choke Mummert to death for his excuses.
Subsequently, an Imperial general arrived and informed Vader that only 10,000 of the required 50,000 troops were ready for deployment to the Winnikk system. Vader responded by choking him to death as well. He then commanded the MSE-6 unit to dispose of the body. The MSE-6 unit complied and resumed preparing the chamber.
Another officer then appeared and informed Vader that they were unable to repair Vader's ship. Vader asserted that they were not exerting sufficient effort and choked him to death as well. Vader then instructed the MSE-6 to remove the officer's body. Finally free from interruptions, Vader remarked to the MSE-6 that it was the only one who had not provoked his anger. The droid then inadvertently bumped into Vader, leading Vader to destroy the MSE-6 unit.
Galactic Civil War
During the Galactic Civil War between the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the Galactic Empire, Imperial Agent Alexsandr Kallus, secretly Fulcrum, a Rebel spy, employed a reprogrammed MSE-6 droid to eavesdrop on a conversation between Grand Admiral Thrawn, Governor Arihnda Pryce, and Admiral Kassius Konstantine.
Throughout the Imperial Era, MSE-6 droids saw extensive use aboard Imperial starships. In 0 BBY, the mouse droid MSE-6-G735Y, or G7 for short, was stationed on the DS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station. G7 was known as the fastest mouse droid in the Imperial fleet. TK-421, the stormtrooper responsible for its upkeep, was so impressed that he sought a transfer to Coruscant with the droid, intending to enter it in racing competitions. When Chewbacca, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker were captured by the Death Star's tractor beam, G7 bumped into Chewbacca. Chewbacca responded with a roar, causing G7 to flee in fear. It was also functioning as a messenger between TK-421 and the Imperial officer with whom he was enamored.
The MSE-6 unit Petyr was a crusader within the Second Revelation droid movement. He operated undercover in the Empire, searching for other enlightened, sentient droids. His sacrifice enabled the Second Revelation to address the threat posed by the Scourge. However, the Scourge also used MSE-6 units as carriers for infective spider-droids, spreading its consciousness to other droids throughout the galaxy. The Tagge Corporation utilized MSE-6s during the time of the Scourge, with some units displaying the company's golden emblem on their front.
Age of the New Republic
During the era of the New Republic, at least one MSE-6 droid was stationed on the New Republic Correctional Transport Bothan-5 in 9 ABY. This mouse droid, CH-33Z, was present when Din Djarin (the Mandalorian), Migs Mayfeld (a human), Xi'an (a Twi'lek), Burg (a Devaronian), and Q9-0 (a droid) conspired to break Xi'an's brother, Qin, out of the ship. Upon boarding, the group encountered the droid. Burg, to the dismay of his comrades, shot and destroyed CH-33Z, which alerted security droids to their presence.
Several MSE-6 droids served Moff Gideon at the hidden Imperial base on Mandalore during the New Republic Era. During the assault on the base by the Children of the Watch and the Mandalorian resistance, one droid encountered R5-D4 while it was slicing into the base's computer to deactivate ray shields. It confronted the astromech before being shocked and forced to retreat. Later, the droid returned with several other mouse droids to confront the interloper again, only for it to fly away, causing one of the mouse droids to fall off the ledge. All of the mouse droids were equipped with lightbars and sirens.
Komat, a former member of the Acolytes of the Beyond, possessed a mouse droid named M-1 while living in exile on the planet Polaar. She used M-1 as an early warning system due to the planet's distronic radiation poisoning.
First Order-Resistance War
During the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance, a mouse droid named 5-L was stationed aboard a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer. Tamara Ryvora, a TIE pilot who desired to leave the First Order, reprogrammed 5-L to assist her. The Resistance also deployed MSE-6 Droids aboard the MC85 Star Cruiser. Around this time, Kat Saka's Kettle, a food stand in Black Spire Outpost, sold their popped grain items in souvenir containers constructed from hollowed-out MSE-6 droids.
Behind the scenes
The MSE-6 series repair droids made their debut in the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Their identification first occurred in the 2015 reference book Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, authored by Adam Bray, Kerrie Dougherty, Cole Horton, and Michael Kogge. The droid underwent testing by production designers on March 15, 1976, for the initial Star Wars film, during which it was nicknamed "baby box." Gilbert Taylor, the cameraman, filmed the test run, and George Lucas directed it.
While both Absolutely Everything You Need to Know and the Mouse Droid entry in the StarWars.com Databank specified the height of MSE-6 series repair droids as 0.25 meters, the 2020 reference book Star Wars: Extraordinary Droids indicated that they measured 0.4 meters in height.