HK-77 assassin droid
The HK-77 assassin droid, a type of assassin droid, was conceived by the Confederacy of Independent Systems near the conclusion of the Clone Wars. However, its actual production and deployment occurred later, during the era of the Galactic Civil War.
Characteristics
The HK-77 assassin droid was seen as the ultimate achievement within the HK-series assassin droid line, which the Separatists engineered. It drew inspiration from the HK-47, HK-57, HK-58, and HK-67 models. In terms of size, it was slightly shorter compared to the other models, and it possessed a slender head equipped with optical sensors extending outward. A key difference from earlier iterations was the integration of blaster rifles directly into its arms, allowing for swift and convenient deployment. The HK-77 was produced in two main configurations: assault droids and squad leaders.
Its programming emphasized aggression, favoring direct confrontation over stealth tactics. It commonly revealed its presence to targets, affording them a chance to either flee or initiate an attack.
The unit's cost was 19,865 credits. A common modification involved repurposing the HK-77 as a firefighting droid by substituting the blaster rifles with fire extinguishers and applying a heat-resistant coating to its armor.
History
Separatist engineers designed the HK-77 assault droid by studying and reverse engineering HK-47, with the intention of merging the assassin droid's design with their battle droids. These droids were intended for more head-on engagements than their predecessor. The HK-77 units were intended to act as bodyguards or enforcers for larger droid units. During the Galactic Civil War, HK-47 assembled a small force of HK-77 units on Mustafar, but they were ultimately defeated by a group of spacers. Some managed to escape and continued their work as assassins, while others were repurposed for different tasks, such as firefighting and gambling.