T-series tactical droid

"Is that... the head of an old tactical droid?''" "''These droids were great at finding things, calculating. Found my master and I a few times when we didn't want to be found."

- Kanan Jarrus and Ahsoka Tano

T-series tactical droids were a model of tactical droid manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata for use during the Clone Wars. They were utilized by the Confederacy of Independent Systems to coordinate their droid army, acting as advisors and often generals for their superior officers. The droids were deployed across the galaxy in many key battles of the war such as those at Christophsis, Ryloth and the Second Battle of Geonosis.

Later on in the Clone Wars, the more advanced super tactical droid was introduced but its predecessor still saw continued use up until at least 19 BBY. Despite the galaxy-wide deactivation of the droid army at the end of the war, the remnants of the T-series could still be found well into the Imperial Era. During the early rebellion against the Galactic Empire, former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano provided the crew of the Ghost with the head of a T-series tactical droid, to aid them in their search for Clone Captain Rex on Seelos.

Description
"This is taking too long. Destroy that cruiser.''" "But sir, there are still hundreds of droids on board." "I don't care!" "''Roger, roger."

- TF-1726 and a B1 battle droid, during the Battle of Quell

T-series tactical droids were humanoid fourth class tactical droids standing at a height of 1.93 meters tall. Compared to the standard B1 battle droids who served under them, they were boxier in appearance and often sported varying paint schemes. They also spoke in flat monotone voices that lacked any sense of emotion.

The droids were designed to avoid the front lines and calculate battle strategies from the safety of flagships or other fortified locations. Highly intelligent, they were often given full authority over Separatist military elements by their commanding officers. However, due to their positions, they were prone to expressing their superiority over all other droid models. They were even known to sacrifice a large number of their own troops if they got in the way. Additionally, their reliance on precise calculations meant they lacked imagination when dealing with unexpected situations and soon enough the Republic began to exploit this. Although they were rarely seen engaged in combat, some T-series were observed wielding E-5 blaster rifles.

Clone Wars
"I calculate the remaining clones are attempting a desperate final offensive. Their chances of success against us are 742 to 1.''" "You had better be right." "''I am a droid. I am always right."

- TX-20 and Emir Wat Tambor, during the Battle of Ryloth

T-series tactical droids were manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata, the company that also developed the B1 Battle Droid among a host of other droids specialized in warfare. In 22 BBY, the Techno Union, Baktoid Combat Automata's parent company, pledged allegiance to the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the T-series began to see use in the Clone Wars against the Galactic Republic. The droids were utilized in many early battles of the war including those of Christophsis and Quell, acting as both naval and ground commanders. At least three T-series tactical droids were used by the Separatists during the Battle of Christophsis.

The droid TX-20 demonstrated ruthless and tactical ability in the Separatist defense of the city of Nabat, during the Battle of Ryloth. Using the city's population as living shields against the Republic's clone troopers, he forced the Republic forces to enter the city without explosive devices. He then sent out multiple viper recon droids to ascertain the identity of the Republic's general and upon discovering that it was Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, he calculated that the Jedi would be hesitant to attack the Separatist command center as he would risk injuring the civilians held there. Ultimately however, TX-20's arrogance blinded him and he underestimated Kenobi and his own Twi'lek prisoners which consequently cost him his life.

When war enveloped Geonosis a second time, TX-21 aided Archduke Poggle the Lesser in his deployment of the Separatists' new super tank. Their attempts were thwarted however, when the Republic destroyed the bridge leading to the Geonosis primary droid foundry that the tanks rode across. Additionally, two Jedi Padawans, Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee, infiltrated the foundry but they were confronted TX-21 and his super tank escort. They planted a thermal detonator on the tank and as TX-21 boasted about how the detonator could not destroy the tank, he neglected to recognise that it could destroy him. The detonator killed him moments later.

As the war entered its later stages, the new super tactical droid model was introduced as an improved successor to the T-series. These new droids were larger, more resistant to damage and even considered themselves superior to their organic counterparts. Despite this, the T-series continued to see use in the war, with one serving Separatist Admiral Trench on Anaxes in 19 BBY.

Imperial Era
"How in all the galaxy is that droid gonna find your friend?"

- Ezra Bridger to Ahsoka Tano

In the final hours of the Clone Wars, the newly christened Sith Lord Darth Vader sent a message to the Trade Federation on behalf of Darth Sidious, which called for the deactivation of the Separatist Droid Army. Despite this, former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano obtained the head of a T-series tactical droid at some point in time. During the Age of the Empire Tano, now the leader of Phoenix Squadron, gave this head to the Spectres to aid them in their search for former Clone Captain Rex on the planet Seelos. The Spectres were able to feed the head power at which point it scanned for a signal while simultaneously listing a set of numbers over and over again: 7567. Unbeknownst to the Spectres, the numbers were a reference to Captain Rex's former clone trooper designation and shortly thereafter the Spectres homed in on a modified AT-TE, the source of the signal and Rex's new home.

Behind the scenes
T-series tactical droids first appeared in Jedi Crash, the thirteenth episode of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars' first season. Production-wise, they first appeared in Innocents of Ryloth, the first season's twentieeth episode. Throughout the show, the droids were voiced by various actors including: Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein and Matthew Wood.

The droids were created to regularly showcase a more capable villain without having to introduce a unique organic commander that would then need to be eliminated. The modulated voice pattern that they possess was partly inspired by the voice of Lucifer in the original Battlestar Galactica series. The word 'tactical' was also written along the side of at least one tactical droid's head in Aurebesh.

Non-canon appearances

 * Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes