A-5DS was a 5DS-series protocol droid. The model was stout and had extra arms, because the 5DS series had been made to interact with multi-limbed Ebranite species. A-5DS was the first 5DS to be produced. Somehow, it ended being property of the Rebel Alliance, which modified it. The Rebel command assigned A-5DS as an assistant to Ebranite operative Rith Tar'ak, who was to become a recruiter on her native Ebra. Tar'ak reprogrammed A-5DS so that it could help her to contact with Ebranite slaves on Grythsorin canyon.