ST-312 was a MK II Imperial Tactical Droid that served on the imperial council as council member 5. the bright red dragon decal on his chassis earned him the informal nickname of HYDRA by the other council members, but the droid forbids it to be spoken. he has masculine programming, and is programmed for strategic analysis, protocol, and battlefield tactics. he has a hidden program that allows him to do combat with a blaster, should need arise, as well as a guard protocol. the head contains the memory core and sensory/secondary cognitive processors, while the chest contains the main cognitive processors. he is primarily loyal to the empire as a system, not those that rule it, seeing the Empire as the ULTIMATE in practical and enforceable efficiency. he makes sure O.M.I.N.s will is enacted in the council, and is close behind president ludwell, not as a sycophant, but monitoring on O.M.IN.'s behalf. the droid also doubles as president ludwells personal aide and enforcer, as well as advisor. HYDRA was destroyed during the second battle of neo-tokyo when reynard, the main character, shoots out his one leg, and soon after decapitates the droid.