C2-B5

C2-B5 was a black-plated R2 series astromech droid in the service of the Galactic Empire during the Imperial Era. The droid was frequently subjected to memory wipes to keep it subservient, causing the astromech to have no distinctive personality. The Imperial droid was capable of deploying a large personal energy shield, scanning the area for hostiles, and releasing a poisonous dioxis gas.

In the year 0 BBY, C2-B5 was stationed in the Imperial security complex on the planet Scarif, patrolling for needed maintenance and performing computer network sweeps within the Citadel Tower's data vault. The R2 unit was present in the Citadel when the Battle of Scarif broke out against the Rebel Alliance, which resulted in the destruction of the entire base by the Empire's Death Star superweapon.

Biography
C2-B5 was an R2 series astromech droid who served the Galactic Empire during its reign across the galaxy. In the year 0 BBY, the astromech was stationed in the Imperial security complex on the Outer Rim planet Scarif, tasked with searching for maintenance needs and sweeping the computer network to locate any electronic discrepancies within the data vault of the Citadel Tower.

The Imperial droid was present in the Citadel when a Rebel Alliance squad called Rogue One infiltrated the structure to steal the plans for the Empire's Death Star superweapon. Three undercover rebel agents&mdash;Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, and ex-Imperial droid K-2SO&mdash;walked past C2-B5 inside the base. Later, when the rebel troopers outside the compound began their attack to facilitate the rebel trio's entrance into the data vault, the astromech was roaming the Citadel corridors alongside the stormtrooper garrison rushing to intercept the rebel infiltrators. The Battle of Scarif was eventually concluded with the Alliance's theft of the plans, and the destruction of the entire Imperial complex by the Death Star's superlaser.

Characteristics
From the R-series droid line manufactured by Industrial Automaton, C2-B5 was a black-plated R2 unit with several gray accent panels, and stood 0.93 meters (3 feet 1 inch) tall. The second class droid's processor state indicator on the front of the dome produced a red-colored sensor light, although it could occasionally switch to blue. The astromech also had another indicator on the back of the dome in switching yellow and green colors. C2-B5's dome additionally featured illuminated logic function and diagnostic light display ports.

As an Imperial droid, C2-B5 was not granted independence and routinely subjected to memory wipes by Imperial technicians to ensure its subservience. For this reason, the droid did not have any sort of distinctive personality.

Equipment
The astromech C2-B5 was distinguishably equipped with a deflector shield generator capable of deploying a large personal energy shield, and the toxic dioxis gas that could be released to neutralize opponents. The droid was also able to release a burst of 360-degree scan pulse that revealed enemies out of sight. C2-B5 additionally had a retractable third leg, a common feature among R2 units.

Behind the scenes
"There was a lot of thought given to making changes to the R2 units while staying within the protocol of what's been established. The C2-B5 is a product of that imagination."

- Neal Scanlan, creature effects supervisor for Rogue One

The character of C2-B5 was created for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the 2016 film that marks the first entry in the Star Wars Anthology Series. The droid was first seen in a behind-the-scenes reel for Rogue One that debuted at Celebration Europe 2016; and later fully revealed in an episode of The Star Wars Show, a weekly YouTube video series by Lucasfilm, released on August 31, 2016. Despite the character's prominent presence in the film's marketing and merchandising, C2-B5 briefly appeared in the film as a background character.

Prior to the release of Rogue One, C2-B5 made its first canonical appearance in the Rogue One: Scarif expansion pack of the video game Star Wars Battlefront. In the game, the droid can be deployed into battle against rebel troopers by the "hero" character Director Orson Krennic.

Appearances

 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Rogue One Adaptation 5
 * Star Wars Battlefront