Star Wars Droid Idea
Background Info:
As someone who has watched the Star Wars Classic Trilogy, Prequel Trilogy and portions of the Clone Wars animated series, I know for a fact that the battle droids could have been a much deadlier threat had Palpatine (a.k.a. Darth Sidious) not controlled both sides of the conflict.
However, what if there was an alternate time-line in which even Palpatine was blind-sided by a model of seemingly insignificant battle droids that were designed based on "terran arthropods" such as ants, beetles and even butterflies? What if there was an inventor/manufacturer who sensed or feared the possibility of foul play and decided not to reveal all his "hidden transactions" and "trade secrets" with the other members of the Separatist Alliance for the sake of ensuring victory over the old Galactic Republic?
Granted, the said inventor could be accused of being a possible traitor or madman by Dooku and the other members of the Separatist Alliance but let us assume that it was already too late to stop his creations from permanently changing the Clone Wars forever.
What I wish to cover, and offer to anyone who is interested in writing an alternate version of the Clone Wars with a bit more grim-darkness, is a new series of battle droids, the Insecteroids.
Insecteroid Models:
Hymenopteroids:
Originally designed as small repair droids that resemble terran ants and wasps, Hymenopteroids have been secretly re-purposed for war. Their highly customisable insectoid frames are an unexpected boon as it allows them to be easily customized for a wide range of combat and support roles. The parts that can be customised are divided into three main sections: the head, the thorax and the abdomen.
The head was originally designed to allow sensory input, communication with other Insecteroids through antennae, transport objects with strong gripping mandibles and contain the primary CPU. The functions have remained largely the same but the mandibles can be easily switched for more dangerous bladed variants including elongated serrated mandibles. Other possible upgrades include upgraded eyes for improved vision, upgraded antennae for improved communication with other Insecteroids and additional plating for added protection. Later upgrades include enlarged heads which can house more powerful mandibles and a shield-shaped "helmet" for even more added protection.
The thorax is where the six legs, as well as the four wings for some units, are placed. The thorax can be either slim or rounded. Slim thoraxes allow a unit to be more lightweight but only the legs and armour plating can be modified. Rounded thoraxes are bulkier but possess secondary batteries which allow the addition of wings for flight or shield generators to generate deflector shields that face upwards and forwards. As for the legs, they can be long or short. Other possible leg modifications include additional armour plating for better protection, magnetised feet to allow walking on metallic ship hulls, claws for climbing on uneven surfaces and powerful limbs to allow faster running and even leaping.
The abdomen was originally designed to contain the primary battery of the Hymenopteroids, a beacon for tracking and a "stinger" which acted as a laser cutter. The abdomen has been modified to house more powerful batteries and the "stingers" have been upgraded cut deep holes even through reinforced armour. The "stinger" can be replaced with a blaster which shoots bolts of plasma not unlike a blaster pistol, a taser that releases strong electrical shocks toelectrocute enemies and fry electronicsor even an explosive device so that the Hymenopteroid can act as an intelligent bomb. Other modifications include hardened plating for improved protection and modified tracking beacons which can send signals to other Insecteroids.
Coleopteroids:
Originally designed as repair droids that resemble terran rove beetles, Coleopteroids are notably larger than their Hymenopteroid counterparts, are built for heavier physical tasks and use the tips of their abdomens to generate light for illumination. Just like the Hymenopteroids, their highly customisable insectoid frames are an unexpected boon as it allows them to be easily customized for a wide range of combat and support roles. The parts that can be customised are divided into three main sections: the head, the thorax and the abdomen.
The head was originally designed to allow sensory input, communication with other Insecteroids through antennae, transport objects with strong gripping mandibles and contain the primary CPU. The functions have remained largely the same but the mandibles can be easily switched for more dangerous variants including elongated bladed mandibles. Other possible upgrades include upgraded eyes for improved vision, upgraded antennae for improved communication with other Insecteroids and additional plating for added protection. Later upgrades include enlarged heads with more powerful mandibles and armoured heads designed to fit snugly with the thorax section for added protection from damage.
The thorax is where the six legs, armoured pair of "fore-wings", concealed pair of "hind-wings" and secondary batteries are placed. The thorax can be segmented or fused. Segmented thoraxes allow greater flexibility while fused thoraxes provide better protection from damage and allow shorter rounded shapes. Armour plating of the thoraxes can be modified to fit snugly with the head or even conceal it for added protection. Secondary batteries in the thoraxes allow the hind-wings to function but can also be used to power shield generators which generate deflector shields that face upwards and forwards and even tasers that generate electrical shocks to electrocute enemies and fry electronics. As for the wings, possible modifications for the fore-wings include becoming elongated or broad to better protect the abdomen section and becoming fused to become a singular solid piece of armour. The hind wings can be removed if flight is deemed unnecessary for the unit. As for the legs, they can be long or short. Other possible leg modifications include additional armour plating for better protection, magnetised feet to allow walking on metallic ship hulls, claws for climbing on uneven surfaces, powerful limbs to allow faster running and even leaping and limbs that enable swimming.
The abdomen was originally designed to contain the primary battery of the Coleopteroids,a beacon for tracking and a light for illumination. The abdomen has been modified to house more powerful batteries, modified tracking beacons which can send signals to other Insecteroids and powerful lights which can be used to blind opponents like a flash grenade. Later upgrades include the ability to shoot out bolts of plasma from the tip like a blaster pistol or even create an explosive burst of plasma like a small laser canon.
Dipteroids:
Originally designed for surveillance and scanning, Dipteroids resemble flies and have been redesigned to act as scouts, saboteurs and even miniature bombers. Just like the Hymenopteroids and Coleopteroids, their highly customisable insectoid frames are an unexpected boon as it allows them to be easily customized for a wide range of combat and support roles. The parts that can be customised are divided into three main sections: the head, the thorax and the abdomen.
The head was originally designed to allow sensory input, communication with other Insecteroids through antennae and contain the primary CPU. The functions have remained largely the same but a drill-shaped "mouth-part" have been added so that Dipteroids can bore holes to hack into enemy CPU or even "drill" unlucky opponents. The "mouth-part" can be replaced with a laser cutter, a sharp segmented spike to quickly eliminate enemy infantry, a taser to electrocute enemies and fry electronics or even a small blaster.
The thorax is where the six legs, a single pair of wings, a single pair of gyroscopic "halteres" and secondary batteries are placed. Secondary batteries in the thoraxes allow the wings to function while the "halteres" allow the Dipteroid to maintain its balance while flying. As for the legs, they can be modified to be long or short. Other possible leg modifications include magnetised feet to allow walking on metallic ship hulls, claws for climbing on uneven surfaces and powerful armoured limbs for grabbing.
The abdomen was originally designed to contain the primary battery of the Dipteroids anda beacon for tracking. The abdomen has been modified to house more powerful batteries and modified tracking beacons which can send signals to other Insecteroids. Later upgrades include the ability to "lay" or drop tracking beacons and even small explosives which may act as mines, stun grenades, EMP bombs or time-delayed explosives. Due to size constraints, each normal Dipteroid models can only deploy one beacon or explosive.
Lepidopteroids:
Originally designed to locate and consume metal scraps before leaving behind "scrap nuggets" for the other Insecteroids to collect for recycling, Lepidopteroids are caterpillar-shaped and have been given three major redesigns. Like all other Insecteroids, they possess tracking beacons which can be modified to send signals.
Factorum-Lepidopteroids are the size of massive tanks and are designed to be mobile factories that consume usable materials to produce other types of Insecteroids. Although slow and defenceless, they are always escorted by other Insecteroids. Due to their function as mobile factories that must be protected, they also often act as hubs of communication amongst the Insecteroid swarms. They are directly connected to a Central Control Computer to receive orders for the rest of the swarm to follow. They may be provided butterfly-like "wing attachments" so that they can be safely transported to the ground from star-ships.
Roller-Lepidopteroids are the size of Buzz Droids and are designed to roll on the ground quickly before latching onto their targets. Once latched on, they will proceed to tear apart their targets with their powerful mandibles or generate powerful electrical shocks to electrocute enemies and fry electronics. They may be provided butterfly-like "wing attachments" so that they can fly above their enemies before dropping themselves onto them. They can also bore holes through even reinforced steel used for fortified bases and star-ships for the other Insecteroids to use. Not surprisingly, they possess reinforced back plating for protection without losing the flexibility needed to roll into tight armoured balls.
Borer-Lepidopteroids are similar to Roller-Lepidopteroids but significantly larger and longer. They can dig tunnels for prolonged periods of time to not only mine for resources but also bore tunnels for other Insecteroids to use. Much like the original design, they leave behind "scrap-nuggets" for the other Insecteroids to collect. Their entire bodies are armoured and they can be terrifyingly effective in killing unlucky clone troopers. They may be provided butterfly-like "wing attachments" so that they can be sent to a desired location to begin digging.
Insecteroid Strategy:
Unlike other battle droids, Insecteroids constantly communicate with one another to form an emergent social behaviour not unlike actual insect colonies. This means that having a larger number of Insecteroids inevitably leads to greater coordination in attacks and defence. Although they behave like actual social insects with no real individual identity for each droid, they can function effectively as a swarm even without a Central Control Computer to give them direction. This means that, unlike the previous models of B1 Battle Droids, destroying a Central Control Computer will not stop Insecteroids from completing their tasks although they still need to be controlled to prevent a potential droid uprising.
Their tactics generally involve overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers and a wide variety of different units after locating them with scouts. However, if their enemies are in a fortified position, the Insecteroids may send smaller groups of saboteurs to weaken them first before sending the swarm.
Hymenopteroids generally make up the main attack force while Coleopteroids act as heavy support and Dipteroids act as scouts with the potential to act as saboteurs or even miniature bombers. As for the Lepidopteroids, their functions vary depending on their type.
As far as flight is concerned, Hymenopteroids are fast and can shoot while flying. As for Coleopteroids, they are not as swift as Hymenopteroids and are unable to shoot while in flight.Dipteroids have the unique ability to hover and fly in any direction. Like Hymenopteroids, Dipteroids can shoot while flying. Lepidopteroids must be given "wing attachments" that are shaped like butterfly wings so that they can fly at all. The "wing-attachments" can detach and fly back to base after delivering their cargo. When detached, the "wing-attachments" can fly fairly quickly.
Factorum-Lepidopteroids can produce all other standard Insecteroids other than additional Factorum-Lepidopteroids. That said, Factorum-Lepidopteroids can produce the parts needed to assemble a stationary factory capable of building a new Factorum-Lepidopteroid with the help of the other Insecteroids. This gives the Insecteroid swarms a unique edge in mobility and on-site production from recycled scraps found in battlefields.
Stationary factories, which are known as Insecteroid Hives, serve as central hubs of communication that produce, maintain and recharge every type of Insecteroid. It is also heavily defended by Insecteroids which live within it. Defences include swarms of flyers and complex tunnel networks which allow ground swarms to either ambush their enemies or set up traps.
While most Insecteroids are smaller than B1 Battle Droids, there are some unique exceptions. Super-Major classes of Insecteroids, which can be as large as tanks, are known to exist and tend to carry heavy equipment. Thankfully, Factorum-Lepidopteroids cannot build them due to their large sizes so Insecteroid Hives are necessary to build them. One particularly infamous Super-Major class Insecteroid is a Super-Major Dipteroid which drops Roller-Lepidopteroids instead of bombs over enemy troops.
Another major issue is the Insecteroid's ability to "swap" and recombine different Insecteroid parts to make new "hybirds". A notable example is replacing a Hymenopteroid head with a Dipteroid head to not only greatly increase its range of sight but also grant it the ability to shoot bolts of plasma from both the head and the abdomen sections in rapid succession.
There is also the danger of Insecteroids being granted new weapons and new models. Examples include "Glue Guns" for Lepidopteroids, a redesign of the Dipteroids to make them powerful flea-like leapers instead of agile flyers and the possible inclusion of mandibles that act like laser-saws. The only thing worse than the Insecteroids being granted new parts and models is the Insecteroids themselves coming up with new designs on their own.
Conclusion:
Insecteroids are, if nothing else, a potential nightmare for clone troopers. Abandoned and destroyed vehicles and weapons are potential resources for Insecteroids to recycle. Vigilant round-the-clock surveillance is a basic necessity to prevent a possible "infestation" in a base. Insecteroid weapons are in-built which reduces the chances of being used by the enemy and their animalistic emergent intelligence makes them surprisingly skilled strategists even without the input of organic or robotic tacticians. Jedi may be able to use their light-sabres and the force to destroy whole swarms of them but Insecteroids have the advantage of both sheer numbers and rapid adaptation through ease of customisation.