PO-12 was a protocol droid stationed within the weapons lab at Lord Grathan's estate on Dromund Kaas during the time of the Cold War. This droid claimed proficiency in over one hundred different communication methods and languages. His function was tied to a project concerning an prototype turret, with its schematics stored within his memory banks. The droid considered these turrets, which had caused several test subjects to be set aflame during trials, to be deeply inhumane. PO-12 desired to eliminate the turret blueprints, but a restraining bolt impeded his ability to do so.
Around 3643 BBY, an Imperial spacer, acting under the orders of Special Forces Captain Bryn, successfully infiltrated Grathan's base. This infiltration involved acquiring a security pass from a member of Lord Grathan's forces to bypass the automated defenses. The spacer then covertly entered the weapons lab and, despite PO-12's objections, proceeded to extract the prototype turret designs from the droid's memory. As PO-12 lacked combat programming, he was powerless to stop the data transfer, much to his frustration.
The character of PO-12 made his debut in Star Wars: The Old Republic, a roleplaying game online developed by BioWare and LucasArts, which was launched in 2011. In the game, he serves as a non-player character in the "Strange Weapons" exploration mission available to Imperial players on Dromund Kaas. The voice actor who provided PO-12's dialogue is not credited specifically within the game's acknowledgements.
During the mission, players are presented with two choices: either download the turret designs, which awards dark alignment points, or remove PO-12's restraining bolt, allowing the droid to erase the plans and earning light alignment points. Should the player choose to obtain the plans, PO-12 expresses his disappointment. Conversely, if the designs are destroyed, PO-12 displays happiness, although he acknowledges that he is still trapped within Grathan's compound and is in danger of being dismantled.