L8-L9

L8-L9 was a prototype battle droid built by TaggeCo during the Clone Wars.

Description
L8-L9 was a humanoid droid that was that was equipped with advanced servomotors and equilibrium centers. These additions helped to give the droid increased agility and maneuverability, when compared to most battle droids in use during the Clone Wars. Mounted inside the droid's arms were built in plasma cannons and flamethrowers.

History
L8-L9 was created by a secret division of TaggeCo as prototype for a battle droid that was to replace infantry units in environments that were deemed unsafe, even for the Galactic Republic's expendable clone troopers. The L8-L9 was the pet project of Baron Orman Tagge, a gifted young technocrat.



Tagge hoped that the L8-L9 project would help to increase his standing in the eyes of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. The project was kept under top secret security, and was led by Tagge himself. This was done for several reasons: to avoid any of the TaggeCo’s competitors from stealing the idea, and due to restrictions that had been placed on battle droid development in the wake of the Battle of Naboo.

Before making the creation of the L8-L9 public, Tagge wanted to test it under the most extreme conditions available. While scouting locations where the droid could be tested, he learned of the back-water planet of Rattatak and its barbaric arena death matches. Tagge ordered that L8-L9 was to be tested there and it was entered into one of the arena battles.

Unfortunately for Tagge, the prototype L8-L9 was a failure, and was destroyed by the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress. However, Tagge continued to work on his idea of an automated trooper, and with the rise of the Galactic Empire, TaggeCo began work on the Z-X3 project, a automated infantry unit that was designed to enhance stormtrooper ranks.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 6"
 * Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 15:2:22