Geonosis droid foundries

"Oh my goodness! Shut me down! Machines making machines?! Hmm... How perverse."

- C-3PO

The Geonosis droid foundries were massive subterranean droid factories, located on the planet Geonosis.

Characteristics
Geonosis was ideal as a base for droid foundries in many regards: it was home to a technologically advanced but independent species, the Geonosians, who could monitor and aid in droid production; its rugged, forbidding terrain more or less isolated it from outsiders, and its large underground caverns provided excellent camouflage against prying eyes. Another prime benefit of locating the foundries on Geonosis was the planet's mineral-rich ring-system, used to provide the factories with ample raw metal and alloys.

Like most other Baktoid Armor Workshop production facilities, the foundries on Geonosis were highly automated, requiring some sentient oversight and a steady flow of raw materials but little else. Despite being slow and antiquated by galactic standards, each facility boasted hundreds of conveyor belts and robot assembly arms, capable of creating thousands of droids per day from scratch. Due to its low-profile and remote location, the foundries kept a low standard on work safety and expendable Geonosian drones were quartered in storage alcoves adjacent to the factory floors.

Some of the main droid models produced by foundries on Geonosis included: B-1 battle droids, B-2 battle droids, and powerful droidekas. In addition to droids, the factories produced vehicles, weapons and military parts.

History


The foundries were built by Baktoid Armor Workshop, a member of the Techno Union, in response to increasing legislation by the Republic against the legality of their industry, many centuries prior to the Separatist Crisis. Hoping to circumvent these new laws, BAW began investing in production facilities outside the Republic's sphere of influence: more specifically, in the Outer Rim Territories, on planets such as Hypori, Olanet, and Zaadja.

The Republic encouraged the growth of such local industry as part of an idealist push for galactic cohesion and the spread of technology to the farthest corners of the galaxy. Eventually, this kind of political initiative disappeared, and the factories were abandoned. At some point before the start of the Clone Wars, they were reopened to supply the Trade Federation with droids, and were regarded by the Federation as its favorite weaponsmiths.

During their mission to save Obi-Wan Kenobi in 22 BBY, Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 stumbled into one of the Geonosian droid assembly plants. Despite a brave effort, both Anakin and Padmé were apprehended and sentenced to death in the Petranaki arena. In the ensuing Battle of Geonosis, the Clone commando unit Delta Squad was assigned to destroy a foundry and eliminate Sun Fac, Poggle the Lesser's chief lieutenant, which they successfully did. After the Republic victory on that world, a garrison of clone troopers was left behind to guard the planet.

Despite the Republic's victory, Poggle later built more factories on Geonosis, which were funded by the Trade Federation. Once the Jedi discovered this, they led a successful planetary wide invasion with the objective to destroy the factories, capture Poggle, and reclaim the planet.

After the massacre of the Separatist Council, Baktoid downsized and moved to the Outer Rim, reopening its factory on Geonosis, that had held out until the Confederacy's end.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Boba Fett: The Fight to Survive
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars: Republic Commando

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga