RA-7 protocol droid/Legends

The RA-7 protocol droid was a third-degree primary, low-intelligence model of protocol droid produced by Arakyd Industries specifically for the Galactic Empire.

Characteristics
Humanoid in shape with an insectoid head, and similar in build to the 3PO-series of protocol droids, the RA-7 was covered in reflective plating and commonly found in the offices of high ranking Imperial officials, military officers, courtiers, and Coruscant dignitaries. Unlike 3PO-series with their delicate personalities, RA-7 were programmed to be "stern" but bland. It had a secret surveillance system installed in its head, hidden beneath layers of benign cognitive circuitry. The espionage unit was hidden behind sensor bafflers that were disguised as soldering welds. It would record everything using extremely sensitive audio pickups and low-light photoreceptors and would make periodic dumps of data via encrypted frequencies on standard public comm units to the Imperial Security Bureau.

History
The RA-7 series was first shown at the North Quadrant Intergalactic Automation Show. The model was an attempt by Arakyd Industries to duplicate most of the abilities of the 3PO series of protocol droids, and in most aspects it failed. A prototype, 4A-7, saw use by Separatist agent Asajj Ventress during the Clone Wars in 22 BBY.

While not particularly useful, the RA-7 became nearly ubiquitous in the Empire by 0 BBY in a plot by the Imperial Security Bureau to spread the droids. The Bureau had ordered thousands of RA-7s from Arakyd and installed special programming in the droids to use them as spies. Almost no one would willingly buy an RA-7 as an assistant – so ISB gave them away as gifts. As those targeted by the droids began to uncover hidden recording devices and surveillance equipment in the nigh-useless droids, they began to hide, misplace or lose them to avoid attention and branding as traitors for spurning a gift from the Emperor. This often lead them to be found in junk shops, droid auctions or swap meets.

A number of RA-7 droids were used aboard Star Destroyers to monitor medical equipment, such as life support capsules.

A combination of the destruction of the majority of their droids and the detection of their program caused the Bureau to cancel the RA-7 droid surveillance initiative shortly after 1 ABY.

Ominous nickname
As the first Death Star came online, the Bureau grew concerned that Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin would attempt to use the superweapon to overthrow the Empire. Unable to trust the Grand Moff or any of his subordinates, the Bureau stationed thousands of RA-7 droids on the Death Star, earning them the nickname "Death Star droids".

Behind the scenes
A black Death Star Droid appears briefly in A New Hope walking past Han Solo, Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker outside the Death Star elevator doors. This droid was made into the Power of the Force 2 Freeze Frame Fan Club Exclusive in 1999. Along with the Freeze Frame slide, this black Death Star Droid comes packaged with a mouse droid model.

In Star Wars 2: Six Against the Galaxy, the adaptation of A New Hope by Marvel Comics, Darth Vader tortures Leia Organa with an RA-7 unit rather than an IT-O Interrogator.

In Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, the "Death Star Droid" can be spawned by typing "npc spawn protocol_imp".

The droid appears, somewhat ironically, as the 'guide' droid for the Zann Consortium in the place of where R2, or a black Imperial astromech droid, would in the game Star Wars: Empire At War: Forces of Corruption.

Known units

 * 4A-7
 * 4A-2R
 * Baruk's RA-7 droid
 * 5D6-RA-7
 * 3B6-RA-7
 * MB-RA-7

Appearances



 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * The Clone Wars: Discount
 * The Clone Wars: Covetous
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures (video game)
 * Keep the Faith
 * Star Wars Dark Times 4: The Path to Nowhere, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Empire: Darklighter
 * Star Wars: Empire 13: What Sin Loyalty?
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope junior novel
 * Star Wars 2: Six Against the Galaxy
 * Tag & Bink Are Dead
 * Star Wars 35: Dark Lord's Gambit
 * Star Wars 81: Jawas of Doom
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Splinter of the Mind's Eye comic
 * X-wing: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Star Wars: Legacy 2: Broken, Part 2
 * X-wing: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Star Wars: Legacy 2: Broken, Part 2