The zalaaca walker was an incredibly fast, four-legged, experimental personal scout walker partly inspired by the zalaaca species from the planet Naboo. Its legs were reverse-jointed, and the walker had a long tail that served to counterbalance and steer it, as well as a thin multi-jointed body. The walker had an antenna housed at the rear of its body, which acted as a short-range sensor array. Its front was styled to vaguely resemble a predatory animal's face, and a menacing auto-blaster was located right underneath it. The zalaaca walker had room from two individuals, one pilot and one passenger. The pilot was located in front while the passenger was located behind. The unique design of the zalaaca walker provided it with impressive acceleration, durability, and agility, while also making it easily adaptable to a wide variety of complex terrains.
Due to the engineers' experience in drone production, the zalaaca walker's riding experience was described as being violent, startling, and challenging. It also provided its user with motion sickness when a sharp maneuver was attempted.
Following the rise of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY, the manufacturing company Baktoid Combat Automata was taken over and absorbed into the new Empire. Displeased with their new rulers, a number of Baktoid's leading engineers and executives left to form a new company, named Baktoid Industrial Systems. One of the new company's first products was the experimental Versatile-Athletic Walker, an eye-catching walker inspired by the zalaaca species. Very few models were ever produced, and a rumor stated that nearly all of its models were donated to the Alliance to Restore the Republic in appreciation, as the Alliance had granted asylum to many fleeing Baktoid Combat Automata employees when the corporation was taken over.
The Versatile-Athletic Walker was first mentioned in Forged in Battle, a 2016 sourcebook for the Star Wars: Age of Rebellion roleplaying game published by Fantasy Flight Games.
- Forged in Battle