U-3PO

U-3PO, also known as Yoo-Threepio, was a 3PO-series protocol droid created by Cybot Galactica prior to the Battle of Yavin. U-3PO served in the Diplomatic Corps of the Royal House of Alderaan during the Galactic Civil War, but eventually became a unwitting sleeper agent for the Galactic Empire.

Biography[]

During the time of the Galactic Civil War, U-3PO was reprogrammed to serve the Galactic Empire, making the droid a unwitting sleeper agent. U-3PO was inserted into the Tantive IV's droid pool during the subjugation of Ralltiir. U-3PO later transmitted an S-thread signal to the Empire, allowing the Star Destroyer Devastator to track down the Tantive IV, thus allowing it to be attacked by the Devastator and boarded by Darth Vader and the 501st Legion.^[3] As Vader's forces boarded the Tantive IV, U-3PO walked behind C-3PO and R2-D2 as the two droids discussed the imminent attack on the vessel. Shortly after, U-3PO turned into an adjacent doorway.^[2]

Characteristics[]

U-3PO had silver plating and yellow sensors.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

U-3PO first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (initially known just as "Star Wars") as a background character in the opening scene aboard the Tantive IV. The droid was first identified by name in the 1995 Star Wars Customizable Card Game by Decipher Inc. The card's flavor text stated that the droid was a double agent for the Galactic Empire. The existence of a double agent aboard the Tantive had first been alluded to in the Star Wars radio episode "Black Knight, White Princess, and Pawns." In that episode, Captain Antilles surmises that some spy must have helped the Empire pursue their starship to Tatooine.^[6]