Transformers were a specialized class of vehicles, employed during a period spanning from the Clone Wars to the Galactic Civil War, that were capable of changing configuration to assume the form of a humanoid droid/walker.

Contents 1 Description 2 History 2.1 Sith origins 2.2 The Clone Wars 2.3 The Galactic Civil War 2.4 The Machinations of IG-88 3 Known vehicles converted into Transformers 3.1 Independent Transformers 3.2 Separatist Transformers 3.3 Republic Transformers 3.4 Imperial Transformers 3.5 Rebellion Transformers 4 Sources 5 See also 6 Notes

DescriptionEdit

The process of droidification had existed for many years prior to the Separatist Crisis, and was useful for those able to afford the modifications necssary to transform mundane equipment into a small droid companion. Transformers took this process to a new level, allowing piloted vehicles to undergo a droidification process, but still allowing the pilot to retain control of the new bipedal configuration. Initially, it seemed only a user of the Force would be capable of initiating the change. Advances in Droid brainsoftware and servomotor technology by Haor Chall Engineering designs like the Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid, Mark I obviated this need and allowed conventional pilots untouched by the Force to use this remarkable ability.

In effect, a pilot could, at the flip of a switch, begin a process of vehicle reconfiguration that took seconds. The end result was a war machine that retained the weapons capabilities of the original vehicle, with the addition of an all-terrain component that allowed theatrical flexibility unparalleled in prior wars.

HistoryEdit

Sith originsEdit

The primary inspiration for the creation of the Transformers lay in the ancient Sith art of Mechu-deru, which infused mechanical objects with the Dark side of the Force. It is likely Darth Sidious used some variation of this dark power to effect variable capability in starfighters, walkers and other vehicles, culminating in the ultimate power itself, the Death Stars. Employing the skilled craftsmanship of Xi Charrian engineer-cultists, and drawing upon the scarce information he had gleaned form the enigmatic Abominor, the Sith Lord set to work.

Sidious' earliest experiment involved the conversion of a beat-up light freighter that had been acquired in the wake of his manipulation of the Stark Hyperspace War. The resulting transformation actually split the ship into two gargantuan droids, each one able to be operated by one of the freighter's pilots. Even more impressively, it seemed Force-sensitivity was not a required element to control the transformation, though it certainly enhanced the operation of such craft. This led to the cessation of any further study of the cybernetic implant known as the subelectronic converter, though that particular technology would resurface decades later. Satisfied that immense potential existed for this technology, Sidious discarded the ship to its fate.

Sidious next turned his attention to his minions, first granting transformation ability to Darth Maul's Scimitar infiltrator, whose droid form even carried the terrifying visage of Maul himself. This practice of formatting the humanoid configuration with the image of its pilot would persist in all future concepts.

After Maul's failure and the loss of the Scimitar, Sidious shared the secrets of Transformer technology both with Dooku, who in turn spread it to his Separatist underlings. For Jango Fett, the conversion turned his Slave 1 into an immense Mandalorian battle droid, a form his son Boba would keep in slightly modified colors well into the Galactic Civil War. General Grievous would also oversee the conversion of both his wheel bike and the Soulless One into Transformers bearing his image.

The Clone WarsEdit

With the advent of the Clone Wars, Sidious, under his guise as Supreme Chancellor for the Galactic Republic, introduced transforming technology to the Grand Army of the Republic while Dooku mirrored this action with his armies. Sidious even went so far as to include transformation ability in "the works" demanded by bounty hunter Cad Bane for his upgraded starfighter Xanadu Blood.

While never employed in large numbers by either side, the effectiveness of the Transformers in battle was unquestioned. Battle droid and clone trooper alike espoused the virtues of transforming hover tanks, and fighter tanks, turbo tanks on the ground. Aloft, morphing P-38s, Y-Wings and V-Wings carried the day. Personalized craft were employed by notable troopers such as Cody, Keeli, Rex, and Wolffe. Of special note is Thire, whose visage adorned the most ambitious Transformer ever constructed, a prototype Venator-class Star Destroyer.

Even the Jedi Order, hesitant at first, embraced the modifications to their starfighters and interceptors. Pilots such as Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Plo Koon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Saesee Tiin, Kit Fisto and even Mace Windu adopted transforming versions of their fighters. At least one Republic shuttle was even known to assume a robotic form mimicking Grand Master Yoda, though it is unknown whether the aged master flew the craft himself or left the piloting to more skilled professionals. Piloting Transformers, with the innate Force aptitude of the Jedi, turned out to be a vast enhancement over conventional starfighters. For Skywalker, in particular, the use of transforming fighters was the beginning of a long career with such vessels. In addition to starfighters, his personal freighter Twilight received the transforming upgrade in short order.

The Galactic Civil WarEdit

In 19 BBY, the Republic itself underwent a transformation into the Galactic Empire, and Palpatine's machines of war were updated with the passage of time. Gunships, ARC-170s and AT-TEs gave way to Imperial shuttles, TIE Bombers and AT-ATs. Transforming variants of these craft were produced, but still at a minimal rate. Obviously, Palpatine did not wish vehicles of such power to exist in any great quantities sufficient to challenge him. On the other hand, his latest apprentice, Darth Vader, was practically showered with variable vehicles, receiving transforming versions of both his Sith interceptor and TIE fighter.

Interestingly, Sidious' monopoly on transforming vehicles was not absolute. With the addition of Jedi trainee Luke Skywalker to the forces of the Rebel Alliance, hope, and the lost science of transformation was restored. Alliance technicians were able to reconfigure Skywalker's X-wing starfighter, as well as his Hoth snowspeeder. The young hero alone now used this awesome ability for the forces of good.

Meanwhile, the long-disposed-of YT-1300 freighter that had seen the dawn of Sidious' Transformer project had fallen into the hands of smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca. Stumbling on the lost transformation capabilities the ship possessed, Han and Chewie were more than happy to take advantage of the defensive abilities it afforded them in repelling Imperial pursuit.

The Machinations of IG-88Edit

Perhaps the most ambitious of Palpatine's plans could have resulted in the most catastrophic of results for the entire galaxy. During inital construction of the Emperor's feared Death Star battlestation, plans were proposed to include transformation elements in the structure. While this proposal never got farther than the planning stage, the initial writeup was saved in the dataplans, a forgotten footnote.

When, years later, these plans were reviewed for the construction of the Death Star II, they came to the attention of homicidal assassin droid IG-88, whose nefarious designs had escalated to hijacking the superweapon to begin a reign of terror for organics throughout space. Amused at the notion that he could retain his humanoid form while still occupying the massive station, IG-88 set in motion plans to integrate the transformation ability into the incomplete substructure. Once he had assumed control of the second Death star, construction droids would effect the completion of the process, allowing him to become the single most terrifying example of the Tarkin Doctrine ever conceived. The final insulting touch would have made mockery of the tradition of configuring the droid form to resemble its pilot. IG-88 intended to have his enormous face be a depiction of none other than Darth Vader, possibly the most feared visage in the galaxy.

Fortunately, all of IG-88's plans were annihilated with his destruction at the Battle of Endor.

Known vehicles converted into TransformersEdit

Independent TransformersEdit

Millenium Falcon (sometime between 44 BBY and 29 BBY)
Scimitar*
Slave 1
Xanadu Blood

Separatist TransformersEdit

Soulless One
Hover Tank
CIS P-38
Wheel Bike

Republic TransformersEdit

Jedi Starfighter*
Delta 7B*
Republic Gunship
AT-TE
V-19 Torrent
ARC-170
Eta-2 Actis*
V-Wing
Turbo Tank
Republic Y-Wing*
Twilight*
Republic Shuttle
Freeco Speeder
Fighter tank
[[Venator-class Star Destroyer

Imperial TransformersEdit

AT-AT
Lambda shuttle*
Death Star
Darth Vader's TIE Advanced*
TIE Bomber

Rebellion TransformersEdit

X-Wing*
Snowspeeder*

*vehicles operated by Force-users

SourcesEdit

• Star Wars Transformers toy line
• Labyrinth of Evil
• Star Wars: Droids—"The Great Heep (part 1)"
• Star Wars: Droids—"The Great Heep (part 2)"
• Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88
• Children of the Jedi
• Millennium Falcon
• Scum and Villainy

See alsoEdit

Mega-Maid

NotesEdit

• Clone pilot to ARC-170 blurb: "This skilled pilot is part of the Republic's most elite military force. Using a cutting-edge morphing technology developed during the Clone Wars, he is able to engage his enemies on the ground, then quickly morph into ARC-170 mode and bring the battle into space."
• Commander Cody to Turbo Tank blurb: "As one of the Republic's elite clone troopers, Clone Commander Cody is the natural choice to command this advanced turbo tank. Huge, fast, and bristling with weapons, the turbo tank is already an unstoppable force. Little do the Separatists suspect, however, that with a single order, Commander Cody can morph the tank into an awesome fighting robot with enough power to level a city!"
• Clone Gunner to Fighter Tank blurb: "The clone gunner aims his fighter tank at the droid battalion. He blasts the mechanized warriors with his laser cannons, but more droids pour in and replenish their ranks. It's time to hit the enemy hard, so the gunner converts his tank into a menacing mech that single-handedly wipes out the entire droid battalion!"
• Captain Rex to AT-TE blurb: "Captain Rex pilots his AT-TE into combat, firing the vehicle’s weapons into the massive ranks of battle droids and super battle droids. The clone captain is surrounded on all sides, but he has a devastating surprise for his attackers: he changes his AT-TE into a huge mech that sweeps down upon the droids!"