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"What's that?"
"It's a droid dispenser, Oh-Seven. Next time read the briefing.
"
―Sev and Fixer of Delta Squad, upon first encountering a battle droid dispenser — (audio) Listen (file info)[1]

The battle droid dispenser was a B1-Series battle droid dispenser used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars against the Galactic Republic. Stationed on Lucrehulk-class droid control ships, they were stored on transport lines and could be launched onto enemy vessels using built-in repulsors. Trandoshan enslavers were provided with the devices during joint operations with the Confederacy.

Delta Squad, an elite squad of Republic clone commandos, encountered many of the units during their numerous deployments, such as the first engagement of the Clone Wars at the First Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY. Other encounters included a mission to rescue the Acclamator-class assault ship Prosecutor from Separatist and Trandoshan hands in 21 BBY and a mission to the planet Kashyyyk to rescue the Wookiee chieftain Tarfful in 19 BBY.

Description[]

"Boss, a demo charge should shut it down for good."
―Scorch, advising Boss on destroying a battle droid dispenser — (audio) Listen (file info)[1]

Battle droid dispensers stood at over 1.93 meters tall,[2] and were beige or brown-colored. A half-cylindrically shaped device, they continually dispensed a supply of B1-Series battle droids from three circular hatches mounted on its sides. Limited to dispensing up to three droids at a time, each deployment took approximately nine seconds, faster than the super battle droid dispenser's deployment of B2 super battle droids. The B1 droids were stored in a deactivated, folded position, unfolding upon exit from the device's center into a standing position. The device was resistant to blaster bolts but could be destroyed using explosive charges such as a detonation pack, or with the laserfire of the anti-personnel laser cannons of an AT-TE walker. The dispensers were also equipped with repulsors, allowing them to be launched into other starships from the Lucrehulk-class droid control ships in which they were held. Inside the droid control ships, they were carried on transport lines through the superstructure.[1]

History[]

Deployment overview[]

CC-01/425: "Three-Eight, the droid dispensers will be setting down in seconds."
Scorch: "We can lay some traps, clear up a few sight lines…"
Boss: "They could land anywhere. Let's spread the pain around."
―Delta Squad's advisor and commandos, discussing how to deal with incoming droid dispensers[1]

The devices were used during the Clone Wars by the Confederacy of Independent Systems against the Galactic Republic. During naval battles, the droid dispensers were launched onto Republic ships, deploying B1s to board and overrun them. They could also be placed on the landing pads of planet surfaces. In its joint operations with Trandoshan enslavers, the Confederacy provided the Trandoshans with droid dispensers. Delta Squad, an elite squad of Republic clone commandos, encountered many of the units during their various operations. Battle droid dispensers were often used alongside super battle droid dispensers and occasionally droideka dispensers.[1]

First Battle of Geonosis[]

BattleDroidDispenser-Geonosis

Battle droid dispensers on the transport lines of a Separatist core ship

In 22 BBY,[3] at the First Battle of Geonosis that marked the start of the Clone Wars,[4] Separatist core ships carried a number of droid dispensers. When Delta Squad infiltrated one such ship, the commandos split up to target and disable crucial systems in the ship. They reunited in a corridor where dispensers were being carried on a transport line above. The clone squad engaged several waves of B1 battle droids and droidekas in the corridor, and in the resulting blaster fire, the transport line was damaged and dropped a dispenser, which activated. Commando RC-1207, also known as Sev, questioned what the item was upon first encountering it. Fellow commando RC-1140, also known as Fixer, explained the device's function and scolded Sev for not reading the mission breifing. The commandos then used a detonation pack to destroy the battle droid dispenser.[1]

This section of the article assumes 100% game completion of Star Wars: Republic Commando. Any alternate stories may be noted in the "Behind the scenes" section. The events in this section may or may not have been confirmed as canon within the Star Wars Legends continuity.

Delta Squad leader RC-1138, also known as Boss, shot down another droid dispenser from the transport line, destroying the dispenser and killing four battle droids in the resultant explosion.[1]

Chaykin Cluster[]

BattleDroidDispenser-RasProsecutor

A battle droid dispenser landing in Hangar B of the Republic Assault Ship Prosecutor

In 21 BBY,[3] Trandoshan enslavers working with the Separatists attacked the Republic Acclamator-class assault ship Prosecutor while it patrolled the Corellian sector. Several weeks later, the ship reappeared in the Chaykin Cluster, and Delta Squad was sent to investigate its disappearance. When the Trandoshans were notified of Delta Squad's presence, they unloaded the droid dispensers from their dropships. Republic Commando RC-1140, also known as Scorch, attempted to rendezvous with Boss, who was trapped behind a door. Behind Boss, an enslaver pushed a droid dispenser which subsequently activated. Boss was forced to hold the droids off while Scorch sliced the door panel. After several minutes, Scorch succeeded and the two destroyed the dispenser.[1]

When the squad eventually made their way to the Prosecutor's hangars, a Separatist droid control ship exited hyperspace to finish the salvaging job. Delta Squad set traps around Hangar B, anticipating battle droid dispensers and super battle droid dispensers sent from the enemy ship. When the dispensers finally landed, Delta Squad fought off the boarding party, placing a demolition charge on the hangar's force field's regulator to put the field back up and stop the invasion in Hangar B. The squad moved to the next hangar to suppress additional forces, and as they arrived in Hangar C, they encountered a battle droid dispenser already deployed.[1]

This section of the article assumes 100% game completion of Star Wars: Republic Commando. Any alternate stories may be noted in the "Behind the scenes" section. The events in this section may or may not have been confirmed as canon within the Star Wars Legends continuity.

While clearing Separatist forces in Hangar C, a member of Delta Squad sliced a terminal to start a docked 74-Z speeder bike. The engines fired and it raced forward until it crashed into a droid dispenser, destroying both the dispenser and the speeder bike.[1]

The squad overwhelmed the incoming invasion force and used a similar tactic to destroy the hangar's regulator. En route to Hangar D, the squad encountered several dispensers that had already been deployed. However, the clone advisor CC-01/425 told Delta Squad not to engage the dispensers directly, and the commandos took cover at the rear of the hangar as more dispensers landed, including droideka dispensers. The squad then sliced a lift terminal to bring an AT-TE walker to the hangar. Once the lift arrived, Boss fired its laser cannons, destroying the dispensers and the regulator. The commandos subsequently boarded the lift, where they contacted Captain Talbot of the RAS Arrestor for reinforcement. Moving through the maintenance tunnels and overcoming entrenched droid forces, the clones eventually reached the gun control station where they activated the automatic defenses and saved the ship with the help of Talbot.[1]

Mission to Kashyyyk[]

In 19 BBY,[5] Delta Squad was dispatched to the planet Kashyyyk to rescue the Wookiee chieftain Tarfful and destroy both Separatist supplies and the Kachirho Bridge. As Delta Squad made its way through a Trandoshan compound, it destroyed a battle droid dispenser on a Separatist launchpad. Eventually, the squad rescued Tarfful and destroyed the bridge, as well as an opposing Recusant-class light destroyer. Immediately after, a Republic fleet entered the planet's airspace with CC-01/425 advising them that the Battle of Kashyyyk had begun.[1]

Behind the scenes[]

RCcover

Star Wars: Republic Commando, in which battle droid dispensers first appeared

Battle droid dispensers appeared in the 2005 video game Star Wars: Republic Commando, developed by LucasArts.[1] Prior to the game's release, the device was mentioned on LucasArts.com's Star Wars: Republic Commando webpage.[6]

In the game, droid dispensers will continue deploying droids until the dispenser itself is destroyed. The "Guerrilla Warfare" trophy can be achieved in the "Infiltration of the Core Ship" mission as part of the Geonosis campaign. It is achieved if the player decides to shoot down a transported droid dispenser and drop it on at least four enemies. In the "Save the Ship" mission of the RAS Prosecutor campaign, the player may choose to instruct a team member to slice a console connected to a speeder bike in Hangar C. Upon slicing the console, the bike will start and crash into a droid dispenser, allowing the player to gain the "That Model Is A Death Trap" trophy.[1]

Appearances[]

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Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 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 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 Star Wars: Republic Commando
  2. 2.0 2.1 Star Wars: Republic Commando depicts battle droid dispensers to be taller than B1-Series battle droids.StarWars battle droid in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) states that B1-Series battle droids stand at 1.93 meters, thus the droid dispenser must be taller.
  3. 3.0 3.1 The New Essential Chronology dates the First Battle of Geonosis to 22 BBY. Star Wars: Republic Commando places the Mission to the Chaykin Cluster to a year after the Battle of Geonosis, so the mission must take place in 21 BBY.
  4. Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
  5. Star Wars: Republic Commando places the Mission to Kashyyyk directly before the Battle of Kashyyyk, which The New Essential Chronology dates to 19 BBY. Thus, the mission must take place in 19 BBY as well.
  6. LucasArtsIcon Star Wars Republic Commando Official Site on LucasArts.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
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