IG-98 was a Magna Guard serving in the Trade Federation, and by extent, the Confederacy of Independent Systems. He survived the Clone Wars, and worked for the Galactic Empire for a bit and the New Republic following the Galactic Civil War. He made a successful mercenary company called Black Watch. 98 ended up taking part in various galactic events, though was relatively unknown. He fought in conflicts such as the Clone Wars, Great Jedi Purge, Galactic Civil War, Operation Shadow Hand, Imperial Civil War, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion.
As an early prototype, 98 received more advanced programming than future Magna Guards, and thus had more free will and intelligence. Though he tended to disobey orders and talk back due to it, it also made him more combat effective, pleasing his masters. 98 did not have a morale sense of good and evil, but simply did what he profited from the most.
Biography[]
Creation[]
Neimoidian engineer: “The first units of the IG series have been completed and have excelled out expectations, but there is one defect.”
Rune Haako: “Very well. And what would that be?”
Neimoidian engineer: “They seem to have more intelligence and thinking capabilities than the rest.”
— An engineer and Rune Haako discussing IG-98[src]
In 33 BBY, Darth Sidious told Nute Gunray to start building up a military. Many designers and engineers were hired, among them being Holowan Mechanicals. They were instructed to create an elite droid that would be very combat effective, against Jedi especially. They came up with the IG-100 MagnaGuard. IG-98 was created as one of the first prototypes. Because of this, he had more advanced programming, allowing him to think for himself and to have more free will.
During his time on Cato Neimoidia, he guarded high ranking officials and other important individuals. 98 was given modifications as well, to keep up with what other MagnaGuards were getting. His superiors were concerned with his more advanced programming, but kept it quiet after seeing the results of his combat efficiency tests. 98 was aware of their thoughts toward him, and out of concern of being scrapped, gave them a performance by killing six smugglers who broke into a casino in the city of Tarko.
During his breaks, 98 often snuck into government warehouses and computer centers, in which he uploaded information on battle tactics, fighting styles, galactic history, piloting skills, and information on various weapons and starships. Because of this, he proved to be more capable than even the other MagnaGuards who were made with him.
As another test, 98 was deployed to the Outer Rim Territories, where him and the other newly created droids engaged pirates and smugglers who raided Federation convoys. He preformed well, killing 38 enemies during the campaign. It further showed his usefulness, as that was more than any other droid got. That was why his superiors decided to deploy him to Naboo shortly afterwards as part of the occupation force.
Invasion of Naboo[]
Kappa Force, my unit, performs almost as well as I do.
—IG-98
The Trade Federation's first offensive operation was the Invasion of Naboo in 30 BBY. 98, serving in a joint unit of different specialized droids called the Kappa Force, fought in the initial attack on Theed. By that time, he had a notorious record among the Federation directorate, who viewed him as pesky but needed due to his efficiency. 98 personally did not like the Trade Federation, and thought about deserting. During the early occupation, he made a friend who was a Commando droid, named BX-182.
When the two Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi staged an escape in Theed, 98 responded to the scene. He engaged several escaped Naboo Royal Security Force units along with other Kappa Force droids. 98 killed 21 guards, and arrived in the main hangar as their ship left. After the incident, he provided security for officers and later Darth Maul.