AP-5

AP-5 was a masculine RA-7 protocol droid who served as an analyst droid on a Galactic Republic warship during the Clone Wars. At the end of the conflict, the Republic was replaced by the Galactic Empire, and AP-5 was relegated to inventory duty aboard the cargo transport 241, an Imperial cargo ship. In the third year before the Battle of Yavin, AP-5 encountered the astromech droid Chopper when the latter hid in the cargo ship while evading several pursuing stormtroopers. Tired of being mistreated, the inventory droid befriended Chopper, helping him steal the cargo ship and providing his rebel allies with a suitable location for a secret base.

Early existence
An RA-7 protocol droid with a masculine programming, AP-5 was activated at some point before the fall of the Galactic Republic. During the pan-galactic Clone Wars that pitted the Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems, AP-5 served as a navigator and a military analyst droid aboard a Republic light cruiser. He notably participated in the Ryloth campaign, in which he estimated the Republic's tactical strategies were only 70% effective. Although the Republic ended up getting the upper hand, AP-5's commander did not survive the campaign.

Fall of the Republic
At the end of the Clone Wars, the leader of the Republic, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, unilaterally abolished the regime, transforming it into an authoritarian Galactic Empire. Although AP-5 had been, according to himself, the best Republic navigator in his class, he was downgraded and reassigned to inventory duty aboard the cargo transport 241, an Imperial cargo ship.

Meeting the rebels
In the third year before the Battle of Yavin, AP-5 encountered Chopper, a feisty astromech droid who belonged to an anti-Empire coalition. The astromech had been separated from his rebel cell and stranded on Horizon Base, where the cargo transport 241 was docked at the time. Looking for safe haven from the Imperial stormtroopers, Chopper had boarded the cagro ship.

During a ship-wide search for the stowaway, AP-5 did not report Chopper's presence to his Imperial superiors, gaining the latter's trust and developing an friendship by telling war stories. When the ship's abusive Imperial captain belittled AP-5, Chopper sprung to his defense and managed to knock out the captain. The two droids then joined forces to seize control of the ship. Later on, AP-5 aided the rebellion by warning the rebels that the Yost system, their original jump destination, was not safe because an Imperial fleet had already been dispatched there. He instead provided the coordinates of an alternative world called Atollon which lacked any Imperial presence, making it a more suitable location to plant a rebel base.

While transmitting the coordinates to the new system, AP-5 was shot twice by the ship's captain, who had regained consciousness. The inventory droid sustained serious damages, but, before he shut down, AP-5 managed to tell Chopper that he would not forget their friendship. Fortunately, after the two droids rendezvoused with the rest of the Phoenix Squadron rejoined the crew of the Ghost, Sabine Wren managed to repair AP-5, using some parts disassembled from Chopper's stolen ambulatory strut. Immediately upon being restored to working order, AP-5 chided Chopper for not thinking logically, prompting Chopper to reply with a string of expletives. AP-5 retaliated by saying that the words were so foul that the droid would be disintegrated in six systems.

Personality and traits
AP-5 had a grumpy and pessimistic personality due to his exploitative treatment at the hands of his Imperial superiors. AP-5 prided his service as an analyst droid during the Ryloth campaign and deeply resented being relegated to inventory work under the Galactic Empire. AP-5 had an antagonistic relationship with his Imperial captain, who believed that he was destined for the scrap heap. AP-5 found an unlikely friend in the form of Chopper, an astromech droid who was part of the rebellion. AP-5 gained Chopper's trust and friendship after he removed his restraining bolt; giving AP-5 the will to defy his master. Despite his friendship with Chopper, AP-5 could still be abrupt and condescending to his friend when he berated Chopper for committing the "illogical act" of sacrificing his stolen ambulatory strut to repair him.

Skills and abilities
As an RA-7 protocol droid, AP-5 had an insectoid head and a blue metallic body. He had a masculine programming and served as an analyst droid for the Republic and later as an inventory droid for the Empire. Due to his position, he was aware about Imperial fleet movements and star charts. AP-5 used this knowledge to help the rebellion to find a safe haven on [[Atollon].