X-1 Viper
The X-1 Viper, alternatively known as the Automadon, was a substantial military droid produced by Balmorran Arms. It saw action during the insurrection led by the resurrected Emperor Palpatine from 10 ABY to 11 ABY.
Description
The designers hailing from Balmorra who conceived the six-limbed X-1, and who also gave the droid the moniker "Automadon," equipped the machine with swiftness, aggression, and a deadly range of weapons, rivaling even the Empire's AT-AT walkers.
The X-1 Viper's size and form resembled that of a Kubindi sun beetle. The Viper stood out as a product designed, manufactured, and sold by Balmorran Arms without external interference, including from Imperial forces.
Its six limbs enabled the Viper to adopt a bipedal stance on its hind legs while unleashing a torrent of blaster and laser fire. The middle appendages were outfitted with enhanced blaster cannons, each packing the destructive power equivalent to a capital ship's turbolaser. Furthermore, a pair of laser cannons were discreetly positioned beneath the X-1 Viper's lower front. The heavy front pincers possessed the speed to seize a low-flying airspeeder, and the strength to maintain their grip while crushing the vehicle.
The Vipers' effectiveness stemmed largely from the sophisticated, full-body molecular shielding that served as their outer shell. This innovative technology not only deflected most conventional weaponry, but also converted the energy from laser strikes to recharge its own weapon systems' power cells. It was also capable of absorbing other forms of energy weapon fire, such as ion cannons, turbolasers, and energy torpedoes. This battle droid could then redirect these absorbed attacks back at the originator. The Viper was intended for controlled combat situations and incorporated manual override controls located in its head.
History
The X-1 Viper, conceived and built by Balmorran Arms, was initially intended for sale to the New Republic. In 10 ABY, Balmorra, an industrial planet, was forcibly reintegrated into Imperial service during Operation Shadow Hand, the military offensive launched by the reborn Emperor Palpatine against the New Republic. The Imperial occupation thwarted the company's plans to supply the New Republic with new combat droids, but Governor Beltane secretly finalized the Viper's development while his primary assembly lines openly produced vast numbers of SD-10s. Upon learning of the Emperor's demise at the Battle of Pinnacle Base, the inhabitants of Balmorra seized their newfound freedom and initiated a revolt. Balmorra's extensive factories resumed manufacturing weapons for the New Republic, drawing the ire of the Imperials.
Following the Emperor's second death, Executor Sedriss QL assumed command of Operation Shadow Hand. Sedriss attempted to reclaim Balmorra and its factories for the Empire. A fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers under Sedriss' command arrived in Balmorra's orbit, prompting Governor Beltane to engage in communications with the Imperials. After Beltane rejected the demand to surrender to Imperial forces, Sedriss deployed stormtroopers, SD-9s, AT-STs, and the advanced Shadow Droids of the Empire to seize the planetary capital of Bin Prime and its manufacturing complexes during the Battle of Balmorra. However, the Balmorran Defense Force successfully defended the city with soldiers and SD-10s, even as the Shadow Droids inflicted significant casualties. Ultimately, Beltane deployed his advanced X-1 Vipers. The Vipers proved superior to the Shadow Droids, securing a Balmorran victory in the ground battle.
Faced with the defeat of his invasion force, Sedriss was compelled to contact Beltane and accept his peace terms. Beltane sought Balmorra's independence, and in exchange, the planet would sell its Vipers to the Empire. Sedriss conceded to Beltane's terms, while secretly intending to destroy Balmorra after acquiring the Vipers and their designers. However, Beltane covertly arranged for the New Republic to hijack several Vipers aboard the Imperial Star Hauler Reliance en route to Byss. A team of New Republic commandos led by Lando Calrissian and Wedge Antilles successfully captured the droids and concealed themselves within their cramped interiors during the voyage to the Imperial throneworld of Byss in the Deep Core. The New Republic intended to utilize the Vipers to assault the Emperor's Citadel and disrupt the Imperial war effort.
Upon arrival on Byss, the New Republic operatives activated the Vipers, leveraging their manual override capabilities. During the Battle of the Emperor's Citadel, the droids neutralized all opposing Imperial forces, causing widespread chaos and destruction. The Vipers advanced to the very entrance of the Citadel, eliminating numerous bipedal walkers, XR-85 tank droids, gunships, and turbolaser emplacements. However, Emperor Palpatine—who had returned in a new clone body shortly after the Battle of Balmorra—instructed his new Executor Xecr Nist to deploy alchemically altered chrysalide beasts against the Vipers, as their armor was only effective against energy-based attacks. The chrysalide's teeth tore the Vipers apart, shifting the battle's momentum in favor of the Empire. With the Vipers destroyed, the New Republic was forced to withdraw. The surviving Rebels were able to escape thanks to the arrival of the smuggler Salla Zend and her associates.
Eventually, Byss was destroyed and Palpatine met his final demise at the Battle of Onderon. Shortly after the Emperor's final defeat, an Imperial warlord received word that a criminal organization had acquired an X-1 Viper. He then resolved to set an example to discourage further threats to his territory by launching an assault on the syndicate's base. During the attack, the warlord's forces penetrated the base and engaged the X-1 Viper in combat.