R3-Q5 was the designation given to a series of R3-series astromech droids in service to the Galactic Empire shortly before the onset of the Galactic Civil War. They were employed by the Empire at various facilities, including a TIE fighter factory and the Death Star. Galen Marek, apprentice to Sith Lord Darth Vader, encountered several on his missions to these locales.
Description[]
A series of second-degree[2] R3-series astromech droids, R3-Q5 droids were mostly plated in black, with some bronze panels, and featured black sensors.[1]
History[]
Around 3 BBY,[3] R3-Q5 units were employed in various Imperial installations, such as a Sienar TIE fighter factory over the moon Nar Shaddaa, a large ore cannon-equipped facility on the planet Raxus Prime, and the battlestation known as the Death Star. The droids were present when the infamous Sith Lord Darth Vader's apprentice Galen Marek was active at these locations prior to the dawn of the Galactic Civil War.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
R3-Q5 first appeared as a playable character in the LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga video game in 2007. The droid also appeared in the Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 versions of the 2008 LucasArts video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Several of the droids appear during the TIE Fighter Factory, Imperial Raxus Prime and Death Star levels. The droid appears in the kills list, if any are destroyed during gameplay, following completion of these levels. Despite the fact that the droids are harmless, they can be destroyed if the player uses lightsaber or Force attacks on them.[1] The Prima strategy guide states that the droids can be used to practice those techniques.[4]
Appearances[]
- Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (First appearance)
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game (First identified as R3-Q5) (XBOX360, PS3 and PC versions only)
Sources[]
- The Art and Making of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (First pictured)
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Prima Official Game Guide (Indirect mention only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 According to The New Essential Guide to Droids, astromech droids are classified as second-degree droids.
- ↑ The framing story of the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed graphic novel is dated to the year 2 BBY. According to the graphic novel's narrative, Starkiller's death was staged by his Master Darth Vader a full year prior to the events depicted in the framing story. The appearance of R3-Q5 units at the TIE fighter factory over Nar Shaddaa in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game takes place prior to Starkiller's staged death. Therefore, the droids' appearance in the game must take place around 3 BBY.
- ↑ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Prima Official Game Guide